I've tried growing peas for two years with very little success. I think I start to late (May) and they don't get a chance to mature before it heats up. We still have temps in the 30's so I'm guessing it is to early to start now ... I was thinking about planting them next week ... any tips?
When should I start peas in the garden?
Assuming you mean English peas, you may be running a bit late. March should be appropraire for most of Maryland. AS soon as the ground thaws and dries enogh to work is the mantra for Pisum sativum.
Early spring as soon as the soil is workable is when I do mine. Now actually.
We just planted sugar peas today. Although Ric says you should plant your peas during a full Moon. We sure missed that. LOL
In our area the practice is to have your peas in the ground by St. Patrick's Day - which translates to "as early in the spring as the ground can be worked. It's one of the very early crops.
Planted my first crop on Saturday (zone 5), will plant one more early April
Mine will go in this afternoon - as soon as we're done with the beds. We pick-axed the ice last weekend then let mother nature help us thaw it. The last 2 nights being in the teens didn't help, but despite frosty fingers, the smaller beds WILL be done today!
WOW, That's hard gardening. Breaking up ice to plant. Those southern gardeners have it easy this time of year. LOL Guess the summer months are when they get challenged.
Had to get the onions in - regardless. Ronnie was like - it's too cold and frozen out there to plant anything, wait another few weeks. So I said, "OK! You clean the litter boxes and scrub the sunroom floors and I'LL use the pick ax!" Somehow that seemed to make it easier for him! And I managed to get the shallots and onions planted in between the ice chunks, and now everything is loose and happy. Bring on the peas, and the lettuce and radish seeds...
My peas are two inches high already. I planted a second lot of seeds yesterday. This year I plan to put out some seed in late August to see if I can get a fall crop. Hubby and I are English - we love peas!
English peas love cool weather. Strike starting to go into high gear.
And so pretty, too!
I planted in early February (very late for Houston I know) and harvested the first ones yesterday. Delicious! Hope I get a lot more over the next month or so before it gets too hot!
Hey, f30 - what variety are you growing?
Feldon30,
what kinda "peas" did you sow? And, yeah, according to your calendar, you should've sown them in mid-January, right? I, too, and still trying to grow a green bean and get the timing right. I missed January altogether. When's the next opportunity to sow seeds for beans in Houston? I'm going this weekend to Wabash Feedstore to pick up some cowpeas to sow in the next week or two. But, I wanna grow green beans! AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHH!!!!
Sequee,
Great minds DO think alike!
Garden underwater, can't plant peas!
I planted snap peas on March 17th. They are just up now.
Ltilton, I'm under water now too ... maybe I'll try again in late summer. One day I'll grow peas.
Yes, I should have planted mid-January. But I am harvesting now and hopefully for another month or so.
I planted Oregon Sugar Pod.
Oh, I planted those last weekend, too, along with Dwarf Sugar Gray, Arrow, Garden Pea Dual, the latter of which are very old seeds and probably won't germinate well, if at all. At least it's early enough here that I can replant if they don't sprout within 2 weeks.
Feldon30,
Do we only have the one window in Houston? Mid-january and that's it for the season? What about the fall around Sept. 15th or so?
Bob Randall says December 7 ~ January 21st.
Harris County calendar says Sept 7 ~ October 31st and January 15 ~ February 15.
It is sometimes funny just how different the two are on dates.
Thanks, Feldon. I could see a 2-week stagger plant schedule from Sept 7th through Oct 31st and again stagger plant every 2 weeks from Dec 7 through Feb 15th. Wonder why November was completely bypassed? Maybe too much rain?
Last week I harvested a handful of snow peas, then 2 days later 2 handfuls of snow peas. Today I picked 2 quarts. If they are anything like last year, I'll pick a couple of gallons of snow peas before the end of May.
This is from really not more than about 15 plants in a 6' x 2' area.
This message was edited Apr 9, 2009 11:54 AM