Organic in the Garden – The Benefits of Growing Peas in the Organic Home Garden

Peas are a one of the most popular vegetables grown in the organic home vegetable garden. The are prolific self-pollinating plants providing bumper crops in cooler climates. Botanically recognised as Pisum sativum, Peas have many uses not only in the Kitchen but also in the garden.

Peas typically come in 2 varieties. Podded peas have had the outer shell removed. Snow peas are eaten pods and all but have very small often negligible peas inside the pod. Snap Peas are similar to snow peas but with slightly larger peas inside the pod.

Peas are from the Fabaceae family of plants also called Legumes (or Legumenaceae). Legumes are recognised for the benefits they bring to a soil by building up its reserves of nitrogen through the nodules, which develop on the plant roots when the plant fixes nitrogen from the soil.

In an Organic Garden Peas are often grown as a precursor to Brassicaceae species, which are known for having a drain on soil fertility. After a pea crop has been harvested the plants are typically cut of with shears or a Scythe depending on the size of the area planted. The roots of the plant remain in the soil waiting for the next crop to be planted over.

The plants or “Pea Straw” are then used in several ways in the garden such as mulch around vegetables or roses. Added to compost as brown for aeration. Pea straw tea can also be made for liquid fertilising of vegetable, annual, perennial or houseplants. It makes an ideal organic soil conditioner.

Peas are very easy to grow. The soil does not need much attention but a typical conditioning boost when preparing for planting will help maintain a good soil. Seeds should be planted around 2 inches (5cm) apart. More vigorous species could be planted up to 4 inches apart and trained along a trellis for easier picking and maintenance.

Organically grown Peas are prone to fungus infection, which can be treated with a mixture of 1 litre of cow’s milk to 10 litres of water. Using a watering can wet this solution over the entire foliage of the infected crop. A simple solution but very effective. Small insect pests such as Aphids or thrips can be kept under control with a homemade white oil solution or a soap spray.

Peas are a relatively quick growing crop with a seed to harvest period of 8 to 12 weeks depending on the air and soil temperature at the time of planting. Ideal growing temperatures are between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius.

In addition to cooking podded peas and snow or snap peas, the young growing shoots of the pea plant can be used in fresh green salads with young beet leaves, rocket and baby lettuce leaves.

July 10, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: Growing Organic Vegetables

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.