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Peas are a little bit different than most vegetable crops. Most vegetables like corn and tomatoes require full sun and hot weather to grow and produce. Peas are one of the few cool weather crops. They do not grow well in extremely hot weather and will tolerate partial shade as opposed to full sun. When to plant peas also differs from the majority of vegetable plants. Since pea plants do not like the heat, they should be planted so that the majority of the plant’s growth occurs when the temperature is not above 80 degrees for the better part of the day.
Pea plants can tolerate cool temperatures and even light frosts. In the northern states, that means you can plant peas as soon as the ground is thawed enough to work the soil. You can continue to plant additional crops at almost anytime throughout the spring and summer. You can even plant peas in waves every four or five weeks to ensure a continual supply of fresh garden peas all summer long. In the cooler climates of the north, you should plant peas in full sun as the temperatures will stay low enough to keep the plants from burning.
When to plant peas in temperate zones like the Tennessee valley and out west in Northern California, Washington, and Oregon is an even easier decision. The answer is pretty much any time. The balmy summers and cool winters in these locations make it easy to grow a crop of peas year round. If an unusually cold spell hits, you can protect your pea crop with cold frames or plastic garden sheeting. Plant in full sun to maximize the sweetness of your pea crop.
It is a little trickier to decide when to plant peas in the hotter climates of the extreme south and southwest. In areas that see extended periods of high temperatures in the spring and summer, it is best to plant peas in the fall, winter, or very early spring. Also, in these hotter climates, it is best to plant in partial or light shade. The full midday sun of the extreme south can be too much to take for these cool weather plants.
Peas are one of the few garden vegetables that thrive in cool weather. Plant as soon as you can work the ground or anytime that the temperatures will remain below the mid 80s for the first 45 days of growth. You’ll have a bountiful harvest of sweet garden peas in no time that you can freeze, can, or just enjoy fresh from the garden.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about Plant Propagation and organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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