How to Grow Peas (Feisty)

To learn how to grow peas we will be using the Feisty (picture on the right) shelling pea. Peas are a cool weather crop so we will be growing some in our Fall garden.

CULTURE: (Fresh Peas): Peas are a cool weather crop. Midsummer pickings are not as heavy or as good as cool or mild weather harvests. For best yields ensure abundant phosphorus and potash and a pH above 6.0. Adjust pH using ground limestone or wood ashes in the row during planting.

PLANT: Make the first sowing in early spring as soon as the soil can be prepared. Choose a well-drained area. Sow 1-1 1/2" apart in a 3" band (25 seeds/ft.), 1/2-1" deep. Make rows 12-18" apart for dwarf types, 4-6' apart if using a trellis.

When learning how to grow peas, keep in mind that for best yields and easier picking, provide support at planting time with a wire fence or trellis supported by posts. Do not thin. Harvest when the peas enlarge in the pods.

FALL CROP: Choose powdery mildew tolerant varieties. Sow about 2 months before frost.

INOCULANT: Treatment with a bacterial inoculant helps increase yields.

TREATED SEEDS: Early varieties are offered UNTREATED and TREATED (T). Untreated seeds are more susceptible to rotting in prolonged cold wet weather.

DISEASES: Many disorders can affect peas. The most common disease is probably pea root rot (Fusarium sp. or Aphanomyces euteiches) which causes browning and drying of the foliage from the ground up.

Some fields and established gardens have this problem with peas each year and are said to have "pea sick" soils. The best control is to ensure well-drained soil and to rotate crops. Powdery mildew causes the white, powdery mold on the leaves, stems and pods in hot weather. Choose resistant varieties.

FREEZING: Peas are good for freezing and canning.

For seeds, OG means "organically grown" and signifies seeds harvested from plants grown organically, without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides and according to National Organic Program standards.

For supplies, OG signifies products that are approved for use in growing certified organic crops; supplies are listed by OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) when noted in the product description.

I started learning how to grow peas by starting four plants inside first. They are doing quite well. The Feisty is a flavorful pea on tendril-covered vines. It is a very sweet, medium-sized pea with an average of 6-8 peas per pod.

The 30" vines are of the afila type, which produces many tendrils but few leaves. This makes hand harvesting easier as pods are more visible and plants are upright. The tendrils are popular for garnishing. Days to Maturity: 61.

I hate peas but I am growing these so we can learn how and post it here on this website. I have never grown peas either but it seems my father did. I do not remember.

The picture below is our pea seedling.

For our model for learning how to grow peas I started my seeds indoors in peat pots. They quickly sprang up and are ready for transplanting to a large container.

I can put two plants in a ten inch pot container which is what I have done.

Below is a video showing how to transplant peas and pumpkins.

Well my peas were not doing so good so I transplanted them into the garden. Then we were hit with freezing temps but the plants survived.

But they did not survive my dog chasing a cat that wondered into the yard. Below is a picture of the one surviving plant.

The seeds I started inside did not do to well since I was not giving them enough light.

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