I've been growing peas for years, but darned if I can grow them here in NC!
The first spring they grew great - tall with lots of peas. Now they grow to about three inches and never get any taller!
Beans grow like crazy in the same location - in fact, I pulled both my black bean and pole bean plants and put in peas back in August and some "volunteer" black beans are now roughly three feet tall, but the peas - well those that actually sprouted are still dwarfs!
HELP!!
A problem with peas
What kind of peas? English peas in Charlotte need one to be a short season cultivar and two planted in February. It is also possible t to plant smooth seeded English peas in November and overwinter them. Too hot for English peas in the late spring and summer.
Farmerdill - I'm growing Petit Pois - Waverex Peas and Oregon Sugar Pod.
I planted a half row of fall peas at the beginning of August and those that came up were stunted and unproductive. I planted the other half of the same row with the same peas in mid-August, and they're flourishing.
English peas need cool weather. They don't do well here in a fall planting. The vines are frostproof, but they are vulnerable when blooming or setting peas. They do best planted around Valentines day. Worth a chance, planted in September, never know how late the first freeze will be. Just recognize that it is a gamble
Thanks, Farmerdill - I have some more pea seeds left, so I might as well put them in the ground. As you said, it's worth a chance.
Farmerdill, I've never seen daylength information for sweet pea varieties. Do you know of a seedsman or other source for this information? Paul
No. It has never concerned me so I have not even thought about it.
Farmerdill, I'm sorry. I somehow misread your comment about short season varieties as short day varieties. As in short day onion varieties. Oh well. As Gilda Radner of Saturday Night Live used to say, " Never mind." Paul
Well, here it is another year and another season...
I've sown two beds of English peas, with floating row covers over hoop-and-loops. Will get a photo asap.
I have the best luck with presprouting my peas, and planting them on Valentines day. I also tried the fall planting, twice, and they go nowhere. Live and Learn.
I planted snow and sugar snap peas Jan 30th, and they just started to show yesterday. I was thinking I'd been too early, but maybe not. They didn't emerge until we had some warm days, and just a tiny bit of rain. The lettuces and asian veggies started, too, and my last years broccoli has tiny heads.
Now if it just stays reasoable weather wise.
Fat Chance.
sigh
catmad - if gardeners were put in charge of the weather, every day would be perfect!
I'm glad your peas and other veggies are starting to grow.
westtngal - I've not been able to grow peas in the fall either. I wonder if it has something to do with days getting shorter at that time of the year.