"Easy Peas-y!" Green Vegetable of the Month

"Easy Peas-y"

Peas grow in pods on vines.  The garden pea is most commonly the small spherical seed or the seed-pod of the pea plant.  Each pod contains several peas.  Pea pods are botanically fruit, since they contain seeds developed from the ovary of a pea flower.  There are three main types of peas grown in the home and community garden:

     1. Garden Peas (also called English Peas) are either smooth and starchy or wrinkled and sugary;

     2. Snap Peas (edible pods);

     3. Snow Peas (flat edible pods).

Peas prefer well-drained soil of average fertility, high in organic matter with a pH in the range of 6.0 to 7.0.  Peas are widely adaptable, but prefer cool, damp soil and weather.

Peas should be sowed as seed in the garden from 1 to 3 inches apart in early spring when soil temperatures reach at least 40 degrees.  For Maryland Zone 7, this is typically the weekend following St. Patrick's Day!  Plant growth is favorable when temperatures are between 65 and 70 degrees, while flowers occur best when longer days after spring occur and nights are cooler.  When sowing peas, ensure that each row sowed is approximately 18 inches apart.  Plants grown near each other will frequently intertwine and support each other.  Taller cultivars of peas may require trellising.

Peas may be harvested for fresh use or left on the vine to dry for use in soups and stews later in the season.  Pea plants can tolerate moderate frosts and light freezes.

Peas are very low in saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium.  Peas are a good source of Protein (16%), Vitamin A (22%), Niacin (15%), Vitamin B6 (12%), Riboflavin (11%), Folate (24%), Iron (12%), Magnesium (12%), Phosphorous (16%), Copper (13%), Vitamin C (97%), Vitamin K (45%), Zinc (12%), Thiamin (26%) and Manganese (30%).  Peas have a glycemic rating of 8.  (All values are per a 1 cup or 8 oz. raw serving).

Peas suffer more from excessive heat and plant diseases before succumbing to predation in Maryland Zone 7.  Predatory aphids, which may overwinter here, can cause problems if the gardener isn't diligent about spraying them off while watering.  Proper use of crop rotation though will minimize the Aphid's effect.

For additional information about Peas and other Garden Vegetables, as well as previous Vegetable Plants of the Month, please see us at:

http://www.hdggreenteam.org/vegetable-plant-guide.html