Growing Peas

GROW YOUR OWN PEAS

Peas is one of the vegetables that most of the people love to eat.Peas is as delicious as its vibrant texture and it develops the temptation in every individual’s stomach.Luckily, peas are easy to grow in any size garden, in the ground or in containers. The only real tricks to growing peas are planting them at the right time (avoiding the heat of summer. They stop producing once it gets hot) and providing plenty of water. Manage those two things, and if you have them planted in the right spot, you'll have plenty of fresh peas this spring (or fall!).

Choose A Pea Variety That Will Suit Your Taste and Location

Each will have different light, space, planting, and harvesting requirements, not to mention a different flavor. Moreover, some grow tall and must be grown up a support system.

• Shelling Peas: These are also sometimes called "English peas." These are the peas you grow to harvest the tiny round peas inside the pods. They are ready to harvest when the pods are plump and begin to develop a waxy-looking sheen.
• Snap Peas: Snap peas have edible pods, and are ready to harvest when the pod is starting to plump up. They are delicious in soups, stews, or for fresh snacking.
• Snow Peas: These tender edible-podded peas are ready to harvest when they are three inches long and the peas inside the pod are just starting to plump up.
• Soup Peas: These peas, also known as "split peas," are left to dry on the vine. They're ready to harvest and store in airtight containers once the pod has dried to a tan color.

Sowing And Growing

• In general, try to plant your peas directly in the garden about four weeks before your last frost date.Soak the seeds in water overnight to speed germination. 
• If you haven't grown peas in that area of the garden before, sprinkle the seeds with legume innoculant (which often comes with the peas, but you can buy it in any garden center or nursery). 
• Select an area in full sun, and prepare the soil by loosening it to at least 8 inches. Install a trellis, because most peas need something to clamber up on. 
• Plant the peas in two rows, one on each side of the trellis. The peas should be planted one to two inches apart. 
• You won't need to thin them they will grow perfectly with this spacing. Keep the area moist until peas germinate, which usually takes about a week to ten days. 
• Peas are a pretty care-free crop. Be sure to keep them moist, especially once they start producing blossoms. 
• Once the vines are about a foot tall, mulch them heavily with straw to keep the soil as cool as possible and help retain moisture. Once the weather gets consistently hot, the vines will stop producing.

Harvesting And Storage

• When the peas are ready based on which type of pea you're growing harvest your peas. 
• Use one hand to hold onto the vine, and the other to pluck the pod from the vine.
• Pick them the same day you intend to use them and as soon before eating as possible. 
• The flavor begins to fade as soon as you pick them.

Few Health Benefits Of Peas

• Weight Management-Peas are low fat but high everything else. A cup of peas has less than 100 calories but lots of protein, fiber and micro-nutrients.
• Prevention of wrinkles, Alzheimer's, Arthritis, Bronchitis, Osteoporosis-These come from peas strong anti-inflammatory properties. Excess inflammation has also been linked to curing of heart disease, cancer, and aging in general.
• Healthy bones-Just one cup of peas contain 44% of your Vitamin K which helps to anchor calcium inside the bones. It’s B vitamins also help to prevent osteoporosis.
• Reduces bad cholesterol-The niacin in peas helps reduce, the production of triglycerides and VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein, which results in in less bad cholesterol, increased HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and lowered triglycerides.
• Healthy for the environment-Peas work with bacteria in the soil to ‘fix’ nitrogen from the air and deposit it in the soil. This reduces the need for artificial fertilizers since one of their main ingredients is nitrogen.
• After peas have been harvested the remaining plant easily breaks down to create more organic fertilizer for the soil.

French Peas Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) cans sliced water chestnuts, drained
• 2 tablespoons chopped onions
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 teaspoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 8 cups frozen peas, thawed

Directions

• In a large saucepan, saute water chestnuts and onion in butter until onion is tender. Stir in the flour, sugar and salt until blended.
• Gradually add milk; stir in peas.
• Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 3-5 minutes or until peas are tender and sauce is slightly thickened.