Peas

1. English (garden) peas; these are the sweet,  tender that is shelled out of an inedible pod.

Varieties:  

• Alaska (55 day)
• *Early Frosty (60 day)
• Green Arrow (70 day)

*Laxton Progress #9

One of the most popular home garden vegetables, peas grow best in cool weather. Young pea plants tolerate condsiderable cold, even light frost; so spring plantings are seldom harmed by cold weather. Shelled out fresh peas have a sweet, delicate flavor. May be frozen or canned. 55-70 days to maturity

• *Thomas Laxton (58 day)

HEIRLOOM VARIETY: The vines grow long (3′) and can be trellised. I have found that in Central Virginia they do not grow that long unless you have rich soil and we have a mild season.  Produces 8-10 peas per pod. This was my favorite pea until I discovered the Maestro.  Thomas Laxton are very sweet and have the best flavor but do not produce as well as the Maestro.

• **Maestro (61 day)

 This is a very sweet, heavy producing variety with 9-12 medium size seeds in 4-1/2″ pods.  They rival the Thomas Laxton for flavor. Sow in early spring for early crop and late summer for a fall crop. This is my favorite variety.  Height of plant is 26″ with 8″ spread.  They like full sun but can  tolerate cool weather. I plant as soon as the garden is tillable in late February or March.

• Wando (68 day)

HEIRLOOM VARIETY: The Wando pea made it’s debut in 1943 by crossing the Laxton Progress with Perfection. The delicate sweet taste of fresh-picked peas makes them one of the most popular garden vegetables. This variety comes into production quickly, making it a good early crop. Plants are very productive. Grows best in cool weather but is the best variety for withstanding warm temperatures. Use fresh or cooked, good for freezing. 55-60 days to maturity.

2. Edible-pod peas; these tender, flavorful edible pods, sometimes called snowpeas, are harvested when the peas inside are small and underdeveloped.

Varieties:

• Snowflake (58 day)

3. Snap peas; these have sweet, crunchy, edible pod and a picked when they have developed a full-size pea.  They can be eaten raw, lightly steamed or stir-fried.

Sugar Ann

This All America selection is absolutely delicious. The large edible pods are crips, sweet, and succulent. Enjoy fresh in the garden, with dips, or snapped into pieces and mixed with salads. Also delicious steamed, stir-fried or shelled. Pods freeze well. Plants grow 18″-30″ tall. 55 days to maturity.

Sugar Snap

Representing a new generation of garden peas, Sugar Snap is a winner of the prestigious All America Selections Gold Metal. Crisp, crunchy, and delicious, it’s eaten whole – pods and peas – when the pods are plump and round. Serve fresh in salads, with dip, stir fried or steamed. Good for freezing. Grows best in cool weather. 65-70 days to maturity.

*Very good varieties

**My favorite

I sow seeds very thickly in a single row; like I am putting pepper on an egg! ( ::::::::::::: ) I make a lb. bag seed a row 60-70 ft. long.  Mother always planted two single rows very close together but I find that too hard to pick.  Cover seeds with 1-1/2 inches of soil.

Fertilizing:

Use 1-1/2 lbs of 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. as peas are a legume and can not handle too much nitrogen.

Harvesting:

Depending on the variety, peas are ready to harvest about 60 days after planting.

Harvest when peas are well-filled out but before they begin to harden and fade in color. My rule is better pick them too young than too old.

Rotation Tip:

If you like soybeans a good rotation tip is to plant the soybeans when the peas are finished.

Maestro Peas

In  the beginning of my gardening days I  planted Thomas Laxton and I loved them- except they never produced well for me.  Maestro have the same tender, sweet flavor and are highly resistant to diseases.  They produce 9-12 peas per pod and freeze well. They also do well if planted late August for a fall crop..