Shelling Pea Seeds

West Coast Seeds, Shelling Pea Seeds - Additional Information

How to Grow Shelling Peas

Planting Schedule:
Embrace the cool seasons by planting peas as soon as the soil is workable in spring. Weather permitting, consider sowing through summer for a potential fall harvest.

Ideal soil temperature for germination ranges between 10-20°C (50-70°F), with seeds typically sprouting within 7-14 days.


Seed Starting:
In damp soils, skip soaking seeds to prevent rot. Plant seeds 2cm (1 inch) deep in the soil; after April 15th, go deeper to 5cm (2 inches). Space seeds 2-7cm (1-3 inches) apart in rows without thinning.


Growing:
For optimal growth, choose well-drained soil enhanced with finished compost and 2 cups of rock phosphate or bonemeal per 3m (10 feet) of row. Most pea varieties will climb and thrive with the support of a trellis or fence. For dwarf types, a simple twig structure inserted into the row can offer sufficient support.


Harvesting: Harvest pods at your preferred maturity stage. While all peas, such as snow peas, snap peas, and shelling peas, can technically be picked early, each variety has its optimal harvest time. Stagger your plantings or grow multiple varieties to enjoy a prolonged harvest period.

How to Blanch Shelling Peas

Preserving the freshness and nutritional value of peas for fall and winter consumption is easily achieved through freezing. Blanching maintains their quality, deactivating enzymes that can diminish nutrients and texture over time. Here’s how to ensure your peas freeze well:

1. Start with a large pot, bringing it to a vigorous, rolling boil.
2. Ensure whole snap and snow peas are clean and stem-free. Shell peas and discard the pods, keeping only the peas.
3. Using a colander or sieve for easy handling, submerge snap and snow peas in the boiling water for precisely two minutes. Shelled peas require slightly less time, with ninety seconds being optimal.
4. Immediately after blanching, immerse the peas or pods in ice water in a bowl. This halts the cooking process and preserves their vibrant colour.
5. Once cooled, spread the peas or pods on kitchen towels to dry thoroughly. Any moisture left on the peas can cause freezer burn or ice crystal formation.
6. Transfer the dried peas into zip-top or vacuum-sealed bags, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn and extend their shelf life.

Shelling Pea Pests & Diseases

Pea Root Rot:
This soil fungus attacks plants, causing them to yellow and wither from the ground up after flowering, often due to very wet soil conditions in early spring.

Wait to plant until the soil is less saturated. Incorporate finished compost at planting time to improve soil structure and drainage. Practice crop rotation, avoiding planting peas in the same area for 3-4 years to break the disease cycle.


Pea Enation Disease:
Spread by the green peach aphid, this virus halts flowering and deforms pods, making them warty and misshapen.

Monitor and control aphid populations early in the season. Use insecticidal soaps or neem oil as organic options for controlling aphids. Plant enation-resistant varieties if available in your area.

Remove and destroy infected plants to prevent the spread of the virus. Encourage beneficial insects that prey on aphids, such as ladybugs and lacewings.


Pea Moth:
The pea moth lays eggs on immature pods, leading to caterpillar damage inside the pods. Though damaged peas are still edible, a significant infestation can affect yield and quality.

Use floating row covers during flowering to prevent moths from laying eggs on the plants. Maintain garden hygiene by removing and destroying all pea debris after harvest to reduce overwintering sites for larvae.

Natural parasites known to control pea moth populations should be introduced in areas with a history of pea moth. Crop rotation and avoiding planting next to last year's pea or vetch crops can also help reduce infestation levels.