Peas 'Greenfeast'
A mid season variety that is noted for its extremely heavy crop of large, even, well filled pods.
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Since the advent of frozen, pre-shelled peas, very few of us ever seem to have the opportunity to taste fresh green peas! But the flavour of a just-picked pea is something everyone should experience, especially when they’re so easy to grow. There are a few varieties to choose from including sugarsnap or snow peas and you can even grow a few types on balconies or in small spaces, too.
How to grow peas in a garden
- Choose a sunny spot in the garden with well drained soil. Loosen soil to depth of 30cm and enrich with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.
- Unless you know your soil already has a high pH, add Yates Hydrangea Pinking Liquid Lime & Dolomite to help raise soil pH.
- Dampen soil and sow seeds approximately 25mm deep. Don’t water again until seedlings appear.
- Once seedlings emerge, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate. Mulch around the base of the plant with organic mulch like woodchip or pea straw to retain moisture.
- Climbing peas like Yates Telephone, Snow Peas and Climbing Sugarsnap will need a supporting trellis to climb on as they grow. Choose a wire panels or bamboo trellis as they allow air movement through the plants.
- Harvest once peas are plump. You may be picking every 2-3 days and this will also help promote more peas! You can also sow successive crops every 4-5 weeks to extend your harvest window.
How to grow peas in a pot
Snow peas and Yates ‘Earlicrop Massey’ are ideal for growing in containers in small space areas or balconies. Snow peas require a trellis, while dwarf ‘Earlicrop Massey’ can grow without support.
- Choose a pot or trough at least 600mm wide and 200mm deep. Position in full sun and protect from strong winds.
- Fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix and water well.
- Sow seeds approximately 25mm deep and don’t water again until seedlings appear.
- Once seedlings emerge, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
- If required, install a trellis to help support the plants.
- Harvest once peas are plump. You may be picking every 2-3 days and this will also help promote more peas!
Peas 'Novella'
This self-supporting dwarf pea requires no staking.
Snow Peas - Climbing
A climbing variety producing crisp, sweet pods that can be eaten whole.
Peas 'Earlicrop Massey'
A heavy cropping variety that matures early with good sized pods of sweet flavoured peas.
Sugarsnap Peas - Dwarf
This early maturing bush produces both peas and pods that are sweet, juicy and flavoursome, and can be eaten whole when young or shelled when mature.
Sugarsnap Peas - Climbing
Both pea and pod are sweet, juicy and flavoursome, and can be eaten whole when young or shelled when mature.
Growing tips
Even the taller ‘dwarf’ peas, such as Greenfeast, will perform better if given some support otherwise they tend to flop on the ground where they’re more likely to pick up disease.
If you don’t have room for a trellis, the low growing Yates ‘Earlicrop Massey’ is ideal.
At the end of the season, dig the plants into the soil so that they can add valuable nitrogen.
Water regularly throughout the growing season, particularly in warmer weather. Try watering the soil or base of the plant to prevent fungal issues such as powdery mildew.
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Recommended products
Yates Hydrangea Pinking Liquid Lime & Dolomite
Apply to hydrangeas to change flowers to pink colour.
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate
A complete plant food enriched with natural fish, seaweed, humates, molasses and more - boosted with NPK to improve plant and soil vitality.
Yates Premium Potting Mix
A premium potting mix, ideal for all potted plants and shrubs, including ornamentals, fruit trees, vegies and herbs.
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