By Richard Jauron
Extension Horticulturist
With spring here, it’s time to think about planting peas. Multiple pea cultivars are a good fit in Iowa gardens, and April is prime time to give peas a chance in the garden and hope for prime results.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists can help create and cultivate an ideal pea crop at home. To have additional questions answered, contact the ISU Hortline at 515-294-3108 or hortline@iastate.edu.
What are the differences between the types of peas?
There are three main types of peas. The garden pea is grown for shelling. Snow and snap peas are edible podded peas.
The garden or English pea has been widely grown for years. Garden peas are harvested when the pods are well-filled and the seeds are sweet and tender. (The seeds in over-mature pods will be hard and starchy.) The pods of garden peas are not edible.
Snow peas (sugar peas) are harvested when the pods are long and thin, just as the seeds begin to develop. Young pods are tender, stringless and may be stir-fried in Chinese dishes, steamed or cooked like snap beans. If the seeds are allowed to develop fully, they may be shelled and used like garden peas.
Snap peas are best picked when the seeds are nearly full size. The pod walls are thick, fleshy and crunchy. Snap peas may be eaten raw in salads, snapped and cooked like snap beans, or shelled for garden peas. They also freeze very well.
What are some good pea varieties for the home garden?
Suggested garden pea cultivars for home gardens in Iowa include ‘Little Marvel’ (early season, short vines), ‘Spring’ (early season, short vines), ‘Knight’ (early season, short vines), ‘Lincoln’ (mid to late season, very sweet), ‘Green Arrow’ (mid to late season, 24 to 28 inch vines) and ‘Wando’ (mid to late season, heat tolerant). ‘Oregon Giant’ (mid to late season, large pods), ‘Snowflake’ (late season, flat pods) and ‘Super Sugar Pod’ (late season, long vines) are excellent snow pea cultivars, while ‘Sugar Ann’ (early season, short vines), ‘Sugar Bon’ (early season, short vines), ‘Sugar Sprint’ (early to mid-season, short vines), ‘Cascadia’ (mid-season, short vines) and ‘Super Snappy’ (mid-season, large pods) are good snap peas.
When should I plant peas?
Garden, snow and snap peas are cool season crops. They should be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in spring. Appropriate planting dates are late March in southern Iowa, early April in central Iowa, and mid-April in northern portions of the state.
How do I plant peas?
Sow seeds 1 to 1½ inches deep and 2 inches apart. Peas can be planted in single or double rows. Double rows should be spaced about 6 inches apart. Double rows allow bush cultivars to cling and hold up one another. Place wire netting or a trellis between double rows of tall cultivars to provide support. When planted in single rows, the dwarf or bush-type cultivars should be sown in rows 2 feet apart and the tall growing cultivars 3 feet apart.