Pea
Pisum sativum
Also known as
Garden Pea, Wild Pea, Common Pea, Field Pea, Green Pea, Sugar Pea, Mangetout pea, Sugar pea, Petit pois pea
Doperwt rijserwt peulen Pisum sativum by Rasbak (CC-BY-SA-3.0)
Full Sun
Easy care
Light watering
Frost Hardy
H4
RHS hardiness
-10°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
---|---|---|
2m | Max | 50cm |
60cm | Min | 10cm |
1 years to reach maturity
Flowering
-
spring
-
summer
-
autumn
-
winter
This plant has no fragrance
More images of Pea
Pea Overview
A pea is a most commonly green, occasionally golden yellow, or infrequently purple pod-shaped vegetable, which is widely grown as a cool season vegetable crop. Peas are easy to grow, and achieve a good yield in a small space, though they have a very limited growing season. Peas thrive in cool weather and young plants will tolerate light frosts. Once germinated, peas adapt well to the cold, damp climate of early spring. Peas must be planted as early as possible in the spring to get a full harvest before hot summer temperatures arrive and put an end to production. Peas have both low-growing and vining cultivars. The vining cultivars grow thin tendrils from leaves that coil around any available support and can climb to be 1–2 m high. A traditional approach to supporting climbing peas is to thrust branches pruned from trees or other woody plants upright into the soil, providing a lattice for the peas to climb. Branches used in this fashion are sometimes called pea brush. Metal fences, twine, or netting supported by a frame are used for the same purpose. In dense plantings, peas give each other some measure of mutual support. Peas were originally grown for their dry seeds, as for centuries people thought 'green' peas were poisonous. The annual 'Peasenhall Pea Festival' in the English village of Peasenhall, Suffolk attracts hundreds of visitors every year, with events such as Pea Shooting, the World Pea Podding Championships and National Pea Eating competition. In 2012, the Pea Festival had an OlymPEAn theme, celebrating the London 2012 Olympics.
Common problems with Pea
Pea Companion Plants
How to harvest Pea
Keep your peas well picked to encourage more pods to develop. Pick peas in the morning after the dew has dried. They are crispiest then. Always use two hands when you pick peas. Secure the vine with one hand and pull the peas off with your other hand.
How to propagate Pea
Seed
Sow in spring. Emerges after 9-13 days
Special features of Pea
Crop rotation
Peas are a legume and so enrich the soil with Nitrogen.
Attractive flowers
Attractive fruits
Other uses of Pea
Culinary, climbing, vegetable, food
Edible
The peas are edible and are used in a variety of cuisines.
Edibles to Sow Outdoors in August
Successional sowings of these quick growing and cropping plants will fill spaces and ensure a prolonged harvest.
Explore allEdibles to Sow Outdoors in May
If the soil is warm enough, sow direct into prepared beds.