Freshly harvested peas from your own garden taste much tastier than the colorless canned vegetables. Now, in March, you can already sow the early and mid-early varieties, because the papilionaceous plants germinate even at low temperatures.
Early peas can already be sown at a soil temperature of 5 degrees
The Sowing
As soon as the soil has warmed up a little and reached a temperature of 5 degrees, you can sow the early varieties. It is important that the soil is well dried, as the pea seeds rot quickly.
- seeding depth: 4 to 6 centimeters
- planting distance: Depending on the plant height: 40 centimeters for varieties 40 centimeters high, 80 centimeters for varieties 80 centimeters high.
- germination time: 1- 2 weeks
- preference under glass: Possible from the end of February
- Plant out and sow in the bed: March to May
- ready for harvest: After about 2.5 months
Sow in double rows or in a wide row. Lay crop protection netting over the peas until they germinate, as birds love to eat the nutritious seeds.
Because peas are climbers, they form tendrils. Nevertheless, not all early varieties necessarily require a climbing aid. How high the plants climb and whether they need bamboo sticks or a trellis is noted on the seed packet.
watering and fertilizing
Peas are quite frugal and do not need a lot of water. Therefore, do not water too much, especially before flowering, as otherwise the lepidopteran plants will develop a lot of foliage and set fewer fruits. From the time of flowering, you should ensure even soil moisture, but never overwater.
Additional fertilization is not necessary because the pea supplies itself with the necessary nutrients through nitrogen-collecting nodule bacteria (legumes).
Care until harvest maturity
To thrive, peas need a loose soil structure. Therefore, hoe the bed regularly and use this opportunity to remove annoying weeds.
early harvest
Early varieties are already ripe in May. You can recognize mature pods by the small balls inside the pod that you can feel. If the peas are already clearly visible, you should harvest them very quickly. When they get too big, the legumes no longer taste aromatically sweet, but become unpleasantly mealy.
Except for sugar snap peas, the shell is not eaten. However, this can be quickly and easily detached from the seeds. You can then eat the harvest fresh or preserve it by drying, boiling or freezing.
tips
After harvesting, leave the roots of the peas in the ground. They provide many nutrients for the post-culture, for example with salads.