How to Plant and Grow Peas Organically

How to grow peas organically

Are you anxious to get out into your garden even though it’s still cold out?

Are temperatures hitting 40 degrees and above in your area this week?

On this Wednesday, we continue with our series, Beginner Gardening Wednesday. Today, we are sharing about growing peas. While peas have only a small window of time to grow them in, they are fairly easy to grow.

Since they are so easy to grow, peas have made this week’s Beginner Gardening Challenge.

Peas are a cool-season crop and can be planted in the spring or in the fall. When I say peas, I mean all peas, snap peas, snow peas and sweet peas. Now, let’s take a look at how to plant them.

Tips on How to Plant and Grow Peas Organically

Spring Planting

Peas grow best in temperatures from around 45 degrees – 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Believe it or not, but a little snow won’t hurt pea plants as they grow. What will hurt the plants, however, are more than a couple of days with the temperatures in the teens.

  • The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends turning the soil in the fall before the spring you plan to plant peas. For best results, turn the soil, add manure and mulch. Then right before you plant in the spring, add wood ashes to the soil.
  • Plant your seeds no more than 6 weeks before the last frost. The temperatures should be about 45 degrees Fahrenheit when you plant. For many areas in the United States may see those temperatures this week.
  • You only need to plant the peas about an inch deep and only 2 inches apart.

Fall Planting

  • According to Organic Gardening, peas can be planted in the fall as long they are planted with corn and bean poles. By doing this, the pea plants will have enough shade until the cold weather comes.

Watering:

  • Be careful not to water too much unless you notice the plants are wilting. A good rule of thumb is about a 1/2 inch of water a week. To be sure that water, nutrients and oxygen reach the root zone, install Rootstick aeration tubes.

Harvesting:

  • It will take anywhere from 55 days to 70 for your pea plant to mature. When it does here are some tips for harvesting.
  • The best time to harvest peas is by picking them in the morning after the dew has dried.
  • When picking, use one hand to hold the vine and the other to pull off the peas.

Summary

Peas are easy to grow as long as you plant them at the right time. As spring gets closer, the perfect time is drawing near. Use these tips to help plant, care and harvest your peas.

What Do You Think?

What are you looking forward to planting this spring? Please let us know in the comment section below.

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