Pea

2-3 plants per 12” container. Pole varieties will need a trellis or tall tomato cage. Bush varieties will also need support–You might have better success with a 5-gal bucket.

When to Start

Spring: Direct sow 4-6 weeks BEFORE the last average frost and when the soil is at least 45 F. (March 1-15 for Jefferson, GA)

Fall: The trick for a fall planting is to finish the harvest before a hard frost. To determine when to sow your fall crop, check the days to maturity for the pea varieties chosen and count backward from the expected first frost date. (Approximately Aug for GA.)

How to Start

Peas are a cool-weather crop. Make sure the soil is at least 45 F before putting your seed or plants in the soil. They like moist soil but avoid soggy soil as this may cause the seeds to rot. Direct sow into fertile, well-draining soil.

Sow to a depth of 1 to 1½ inches deep and 1 inch apart. Thin to 3-6 inches apart. Seeds can be soaked overnight to aid germination.

Care

Space your rows 18 inches apart. It’s also a good idea to fertilize at planting time. Even bush varieties may need some kind of support. A tomato cage should suffice for the bush varieties, while for the vining it would be better to use a trellis. Snow will not hurt emerging seedlings, but several days with temperatures in the teens might. This will also slow germination.

When thinking about plant care, remember that after you pick the first crop, peas like to be fertilized again. Keep the soil moist but not soggy as that can cause root rot and fungus problems. Use mulch to help retain moisture. Consider using a fabric screen for hot days or planting in partial shade as they don’t tolerate heat well.

Harvest

Hold the vine with one hand and pick with the other to avoid damaging the plant. The variety as well as purpose will determine when to pick.

• Snap peas are ready when the pods are tender but before the seeds have begun to swell and show their form. Most snap pea varieties will become bitter if allowed to mature, but some varieties will not.
• Harvest snow peas when the pods are thin and tender, and you can only see bits of the peas inside.
• Shelling peas are picked when the pods are round, and the seeds are plump.
• For dry peas or seeds saving, harvest when the pods are dry, and the seeds inside are hard.

• Oregon Sugar Pod II: Vigorous 28-inch vines produce large crops of 4.5-inch-long edible pods. Resistant to wilt, powdery mildew, and the pea enation virus. Great for eating raw, freezing, and stir-fries.
• Sugar Snap: The pods are edible when young and sweet. When allowed to mature, it will produce full-sized shelling peas. 

A DANGER with saving pea seeds is rain, which can moisten seeds drying in their pods while still on the vine. Too much moisture during seed maturation lowers the viability and storage life of the finished seeds, and can even cause them to sprout or mildew while still on the vine.

The more you pick the more they will produce!

Sources:

Gardeningknowhow.com

Edenbrothers.com

Almanac.com