PEAS

Peas of all kinds are always a nice treat. They grow nicely in our climate and shelled peas freeze well for eating all winter long. I typically grow a couple of beds of shelling peas and just a few sugar peas for snacking (usually while I’m in the garden) or snow peas for stir frys. I normally blanch & freeze the shelled peas in vacuum-sealed bags for use during the winter.

Because of my unique garden arrangement with the tall raised beds topped with hoops for covering with shade cloth or plastic, I only grow varieties with short vines that do not need to be trellised. These peas that range 2-3 feet drape over the sides of the beds.

Outdoors, I typically sow the seeds in the ground around May 1, and can begin harvesting around August 1. Most of the peas advertise 60-65 days to maturity, but mine here are closer to 80 days.

Pea Seeds are easy to save for the next year’s garden. I usually select a few of the FIRST plants that grow peas, mark them so I won’t harvest them, and let them dry on the vines. After dried, shell them and save them for next year!

HIGH ELEVATION GROWING TIP: PEAS

Grow lots of peas! Sow them in the ground 3-4 weeks before your average last frost and watch them grow.

PEA COMPANIONS

Companions for peas are bush beans, pole beans, carrots, celery, chicory, corn, cucumber, eggplant, parsley, early potato, radish, spinach, strawberry, sweet pepper, tomatoes and turnips. I typically plant my peas with either carrots, parsnips or beets.

In rows, the peas go along the edges of the beds with the carrots, parsnips or beets up the center. Since the peas dangle over the edge of our taller, raised beds, the beets & carrots are easy to reach. Alternatively, the peas can also grow in the center of the bed, trained to climb up to the top of our hoop, with the shorter root veggies along the outer edges.

FAVORITE PEA VARIETIES

Green Arrow OP – Shelling (65 Days) | DTH: 80 | These grow nicely for me every year. Abundant harvests which continue August through September.
Maestro OP – Shelling (60 Days) | DTH: 72-80, depending on when sown. Those sown later were harvested more quickly. Another winner, just a tad earlier to spread out the harvest when growing both varieites. Abundant harvests which continue August through September.
Oregon Sugar Pod II OP – Snow (70 Days) | DTH: 75-ish. Must pick these frequently to avoid peas that get too large!
Sugar Sprint OP – Sugar Snap (55 Days) | DTH: Unsure.
Sugar Ann OP – Sugar Snap (58 Days) | DTH: Unsure.

LESS FAVORITE VARIETIES

Lincoln OP (67 Days) The year that I tried these they did not sprout well. I was disappointed with the small harvest.
PLS 560 OP (60 Days) One year I tried these peas, which are considered to be “bush-habited plants”. I thought it might be a good choice for my raised beds. I’ve read things like, “A strong-stemmed variety – it holds upright throughout the season, making harvest quick and very rewarding” to describe these peas. I found them more difficult to harvest: the stringy tendrils had a tendency to get the plants all twangled together and they did not stand so upright. The peas were fine, but not as plentiful, and I just didn’t care for these.