Peas

Peas straight from the pod put a smile on my face, so they got a spot in my little garden. We planted in September or October the first time, since winter only lasts about a week around here, so we felt pretty good about it. The one or two pea plants grew about 3 inches in their short life. Undaunted, I tried again, this time planting about 15 peas in just a few inches, hoping some would come up. It took a few weeks, but eventually 1, then 2 more, and now 6 plants are growing. Most experience gardeners would tell me to thin them, in such a tiny space, but I didn't because 1) it's hard throwing out perfectly good plants, 2) the hot season is fast approaching, so I wanted to let the survival of the fittest define a winner, not myself, and 3) I just wanted something to survive, and maybe get that one pea pod, fresh and tasty!

And today, as we speak, two little pea pods are on their way to consumption, as seen in the photo. There is even a third blossom, but it is a race between it and the drying leaves at the bottom to see who wins out. I'm cheering for the blossom.

Things to know

• Peas are self-pollinating, meaning the blossoms are built in a way that one flower can pollinate itself without the need for bees, insects, or humans with brushes to produce a pod.
• Peas need a good amount of water, but remember that over-watering is really easy in a container.
• Peas grow best in 75 F (~24 C) or less, though freezing is maybe a bit too nippy. These 90 F days have not killed the plants yet, but they aren't really happy about it.
• Staking, tying, trellising, or using vertical space in anyway is a good thing. We tie the plants to a bamboo rod using a stable, but stretchy material, like t-shirt material. If the tie has no stretch, it can cut into the plant and will break off the shoots. If it is too stretchy, the plant will flop over, covering up valuable ground space for other plants.
• Peas can grow in partial shade. These plants get about 3 hours direct light on a good day and some dappled light for another 3 hours. So far, that's been okay.

Further research ideas:

• What natural fertilizers do peas like best?
• Do they grow well inside and how much shade can they tolerate?
• What are good plants to rotate in after the peas die off?

Have any insights you want to share?