Peas

 Peas are cool-season crop. There are three types of peas: garden or green peas (not edible pods), snow peas (edible flat pods with smaller peas inside) and snap peas (edible with full size peas). Peas are very easy to grow.  They have a short life, so you can extend your harvest by planting every two weeks. Pea pods can be eaten raw, or cooked in stir flies.

When to plant. Plant peas in February - April & late July for fall harvest. Plant every 2 weeks in succession to prolong harvest.

How to plant. Sow in full sun in spring and late summer. Peas will tolerate some frost and are very sensitive to heat. Plant 1 seed every 2 inches. There is no need to thin plants. Peas perform best if supported by trellis. You may plant peas on both sides of the trellis and let the plants grow together.

Light	Full sun
Seed Depth	1 1/2 in
Spacing Row/plant	2 ½ ft/2 in
Days to germinate	8-12
Days to harvest	72
Preserve by	Freezing

                                         

Harvest. Simply pick the pods as they fill out to encourage production. When you harvest, try not to jerk pods from vines since rough handling can cause plants to stop producing.  It is best to use a pair of scissors or pruners.

Like any first time gardener, I did not know that the young leaves were edible.  I tried it for the first time and they are so delicious (see Recipes). As you can see in the picture, you only harvest the young tops. When you harvest the young tops, it should snap easy. If you have to twist it to break it off, that means your are breaking a mature stem (which might hurt your plant), and this part is not palatable.

Health Benefits. Peas are packed with 8 vitamins, 7 minerals , protein and fiber. They are an excellent source of Vitamin K, which activates the osteocalcin in our bodies, thus anchoring the calcium we digest to our bones. They are also a good source of folic acid and Vitamin B6, important for combating osteoporosis and atherosclerosis by reducing the buildup of homocysteine molecules.
Peas are a good source of other B Vitamins as well, such as thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and niacin (vitamin B3). These help regulate lipid, carbohydrate and protein levels.
Peas contain a fair amount of Vitamin C, which is our body’s main antioxidant protection against viruses and diseases, and perhaps even some cancers.
The smoother the skin of the pod, the more starch it has.

Recipes:
Beef stir fry with snow peas and pea greens