Pea
A cool-season crop: sow early, pick often, and clear the plants once hot weather ends cropping.
Care
Full sun; tolerates light shade in hot summers.
Medium — water well once flowering starts and while pods fill.
Moisture-retentive, well-drained soil.
None; support with twiggy sticks or netting. Pick pods regularly to keep plants cropping.
No feed needed: peas fix their own nitrogen. Leave the roots in the soil after harvest to feed the next crop.
Sow direct from early spring to early summer, or in lengths of guttering under cover for planting out. Hardy round-seeded types can be sown in autumn in mild areas.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MarchSow first early peas under cloches or in guttering. how ›
- AprilPut in pea sticks or netting as soon as seedlings appear. how ›
- JunePick pods regularly while young and sweet.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchSow first early peas under cloches or in guttering. how ›
- AprilPut in pea sticks or netting as soon as seedlings appear. how ›
- JunePick pods regularly while young and sweet.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Seeds dug up, seedlings pulled.
What to do. Sow under cover or protect with netting.
How to spot it. Small caterpillars inside the pods.
What to do. Sow early or late to miss the moth, or cover with mesh.
How to spot it. White coating late in the season.
What to do. Water in dry spells; clear old plants.
Questions
Pea: is it hardy?
H2: Tender. It survives down to 1 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Yes — dwarf varieties in deep pots.
Pea: when do you prune it?
None; support with twiggy sticks or netting.
Pea: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in May–July.
When do you feed it?
No feed needed: peas fix their own nitrogen. Leave the roots in the soil after harvest to feed the next crop.