Peas : Peas, Shelling (Bush)

Great for salads, soups, stews, sautés and more, do not require staking

Peas have been cultivated by humans for anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 years. Dried Shelling Peas are typically used for soups or stews, and fresh shelled immature peas are good in salads or lightly steamed or boiled. Unlike Snow Peas or Snap Peas, their pod is too fibrous to be edible, and the peas themselves must be removed from the shells. Bush varieties do not require staking although they will sometimes benefit from it.

Fabaceae Pisum sativum

This is an example of the timeline you would see based on your growing conditions.

Peas: Shelling, Bush

Peas, Shelling (Bush)

Peas have been cultivated by humans for anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 years. Dried Shelling Peas are typically used for soups or stews, and fresh shelled immature peas are good lightly steamed or boiled. Unlike Snow Peas or Snap Peas, their pod is too fibrous to be edible, and the peas themselves must be removed from the shells.

These varieties grow in a bush form, rather than as the more familiar form on vines.

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Basics

Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Annual
Days to Maturity: 55-75 (Spring/Summer), 60-75 (Fall/Winter)
Growing Habit: Bush
Hardiness: Hardy

Peas are very frost tolerant.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Spring, Summer, Fall Transplant, Fall
Growing Season: Short, Long
Cultivar Type: -
Growing Conditions: Cool

Peas are cool weather plants, hardy down to 20 degrees (28 degrees F when flowering). They prefer mild temperatures (55 to 75 degrees F) and don't usually set pods above 80 degrees F. In areas with hot summers they are grown as a spring or fall crop (fall planting presents its own problems however).

It is important to plant your peas early, so that they have enough time to mature before the hot weather sets in. Normally the first peas are planted 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost date.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 45°F - 75°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 45°F

Pea seeds will germinate over a wide temperature range, but do so much faster in warm soil. At 40˚F they may take over a month to germinate (if they don’t rot or get eaten in the meantime). At 70˚F they may take only a week.

These large nutritious seeds are vulnerable once planted, so you don't want them sitting in the soil for too long. For this reason it's best to wait until the soil is at least 45 degrees and preferably 60 degrees.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cool)

Full sun.
Water: Moderate

Peas should get about one inch of water per week. In cool spring weather peas will usually get enough water from rainfall so you don't have to irrigate. Watering at this time may encourage mildew and can actually reduce yields. If the soil starts to get dry at any time you must start watering. This is particularly important from the time the flowers appear, as water is needed for pod formation and maturation.
Feeder: Light

Low nitrogen. Low potassium. Low phosphorous.

Peas aren't very hungry plants.
Suitability: Tolerates light frost
Small Gardens?: No
Containers?: Yes

It is possible to grow peas in fairly deep containers (at least 8"), but they won't be very productive. To increase productivity, increase the amount of compost tea you give your plant, especially during flowering and fruiting.
Attracts beneficial insects?: No
Color
Fruit Size: - "
Plant Height: 15.0 - 20.0"
Plant Diameter: 6.0 - 18.0"
Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Disease Resistance
Taste Profile: Sweet, sweet classic peas, excellent when steamed to bring out maximum flavor.
Rotation Group: Soil Builders and Cleaners: Legumes + Corn + Potatoes

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Plant Guide

Peas : Peas, Shelling (Bush)

Great for salads, soups, stews, sautés and more, do not require staking

Peas, Shelling (Bush)

Basics