Pea Picking Tips

When you are picking peas for the pea seeds, pods should be plump and have a swollen appearance. Check a few of the biggest pods randomly to see if they are the size you want. This, in combination with the number of days since planting, guides you on how to harvest pea seeds.

How can I encourage my pea to grow?
What part of pea shoots do you eat?
Do peas need pinching out?
What month do you plant peas?
Can you eat peas raw?
Should I soak peas before planting?
How much water does a pea plant need per day?
Do peas need full sun?
Will pea shoots regrow after cutting?
Why are pea shoots expensive?
How long do pea shoots last?

How can I encourage my pea to grow?

Warm soil helps peas grow faster. Provide good support for the pea plants -- a trellis or fence will allow the plants to grow strong and fast. Mulch helps the soil around the plants' shallow roots to remain cool and moist, and this helps the plants grow faster.

What part of pea shoots do you eat?

Almost every part of the pea plant is edible

The shoot is the tender tip of the vine which includes the leaves, stem, blossom and tendrils. They taste like peas, but with a flavor that is all their own.

Do peas need pinching out?

It is possible to dwarf any pea plant by pinching out the main shoot when the plant is about 20cm high and allowing it to branch. Tall main crops, particularly the older varieties, can reach more than two metres (7ft) and thus need supports.

What month do you plant peas?

The key to growing peas is to plant them early enough in spring so they mature while the weather is still cool. This means planting in February, March, or April in most parts of the United States and Canada.

Can you eat peas raw?

AS anyone with a vegetable garden knows, there is nothing like fresh peas eaten straight from the pod. They are so sweet and tender, they do not need to be cooked at all -- and once you have started to eat them it is hard to stop. Courtiers of Louis XIV knew this only too well.

Should I soak peas before planting?

Some pea (Pisum sativum) seeds will look wrinkled. Most of them have hard coats, and all benefit from soaking before planting. Soak them overnight in warm water. This will expedite the germination process.

How much water does a pea plant need per day?

Growing Peas

Planting depth should be roughly 2 inches with a spacing of about 2 inches apart. Water well at planting and provide at least 1 inch of water per week, particularly during the flowering and pod production stages. As the temperature rises, the vines may need to be deeply watered almost every day.

Do peas need full sun?

Peas and green beans like cooler temperatures. They need some sun (about four to five hours per day) to produce flowers and pods, but they tend to fade out as the temperature warms. Planting them in a cool shady spot will lengthen your growing season. Bush beans are a better choice for shade than pole beans.

Will pea shoots regrow after cutting?

Harvest by pinching off each shoot just above the bottom leaves. Some of the pea shoots may regrow to give you a second harvest. And after two or three weeks they'll be ready to eat!

Why are pea shoots expensive?

Pea greens in markets typically come from snow or snap peas, although you can eat the shoots of any pea variety. Because they're so perishable, they are among the more expensive produce items, comparable to the cost of microgreens.

How long do pea shoots last?

How do you store pea shoots? Place them inside a brown paper bag, or wrap them with paper towel and place in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. They should last two to three days.