Tell me about peas

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I have not planted any peas for years because of space, but I read an article about planting them really close. I bought 1/2 pound of Little Marvel and planted them all in a 4 x 10 or so area. I think it was March, but now I cannot remember. The package says they will be about 18 inches high. The article said if planted close they will support each other. So, they all came up and then about June 11 I took a picture of them with a yardstick. In the middle they are 36 inches high as of June 11th. They have white flowers and a few pods forming not filled out yet. Some of the flowers are purple. Do the white flowers turn purple? Now they are getting so tall they are all falling towards the north and I am not sure if I can get support in there or not. I thought they would be ready to pick in May and hot weather would stop them from growing and then pull the plants and plant something else there, but at this rate these peas will be producing when fall comes. I am going outside in the rain right now to measure. There are some now a foot over the yardstick and some more falling over. Actually, 2 sunflowers are leaning and DH will have to put stakes in when he gets home and the box of asparagus has the ferns falling over in the wet soil. How long do peas produce? Is it unusual for 18 inch peas to be over 3 feet tall? I bought another 1/2 pound of Little Marvel and I am going to make supports with chicken wire BEFORE planting the seed, but if these are going to produce until fall then I will not have room, but since they fell over it might ruin the whole thing anyway.

 

[897tgigvib]

Wow, reading that was kind of fun!

Your little marvel peas should all have white flowers. Since you have some colorful flowers in there I suspect you have at least one other variety mixed in, but I kind of think you have several varieties.

I'm guessing that you'll discover the purple flowered ones are the tallest.

In some places, like a good zone 7 or warmer, peas do well enough planted as a fall or winter crop, but still do better planted before the regular season.

I live in zone 8 something. I plant my peas when it still might do some mild frosts. This year it was March 16th, the earliest i ever planted them, and it did not frost on them. Strange year, and lucky microclimate as the lake was higher this winter and probably moderated winter's coldness.

With ideal growing conditions peas can grow twice as tall as what the variety normally grows, and that happened with my Alaska peas. But 3 or 4 times the height, I don't know about that. I think your seeds are a mixed lot. Sounds like fun! But as for your space, and the amount of time they are taking, I don't know. My Alaska peas, one of the quickest varieties, I just last week finished and pulled except for one plant that made the largest pods for seed to add to my other Alaska seed. Little Marvel should not be far behind Alaska for ripening.

 

[digitS']

Gwr, it hardly matters how early I sow pea seed.

They will produce their crop in early July. If planted too early, they may not germinate well. Once making pods, it won't be very long before they start going down to the problems of pea old-age. With successive sowings, I may have peas for 3 weeks but that's about it. Snow pea seed can be planted again the last few days of July for October pea pods.

I have had zero luck with growing peas without support and have tried a couple where the claim was that they didn't need it.

Steve

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

Wow, reading that was kind of fun!

Your little marvel peas should all have white flowers. Since you have some colorful flowers in there I suspect you have at least one other variety mixed in, but I kind of think you have several varieties.

I'm guessing that you'll discover the purple flowered ones are the tallest.

In some places, like a good zone 7 or warmer, peas do well enough planted as a fall or winter crop, but still do better planted before the regular season.

I live in zone 8 something. I plant my peas when it still might do some mild frosts. This year it was March 16th, the earliest i ever planted them, and it did not frost on them. Strange year, and lucky microclimate as the lake was higher this winter and probably moderated winter's coldness.

With ideal growing conditions peas can grow twice as tall as what the variety normally grows, and that happened with my Alaska peas. But 3 or 4 times the height, I don't know about that. I think your seeds are a mixed lot. Sounds like fun! But as for your space, and the amount of time they are taking, I don't know. My Alaska peas, one of the quickest varieties, I just last week finished and pulled except for one plant that made the largest pods for seed to add to my other Alaska seed. Little Marvel should not be far behind Alaska for ripening.

I think there are some different kinds in there. I am not sure the purple are the tallest, but they seem to be stouter.

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

Gwr, it hardly matters how early I sow pea seed.

They will produce their crop in early July. If planted too early, they may not germinate well. Once making pods, it won't be very long before they start going down to the problems of pea old-age. With successive sowings, I may have peas for 3 weeks but that's about it. Snow pea seed can be planted again the last few days of July for October pea pods.

I have had zero luck with growing peas without support and have tried a couple where the claim was that they didn't need it.

Steve

I grew them in warmer climates, so I guess that is why I am confused. I sure will support them the next time. I do have tall telephone peas planted with support. The package reads they will be 6 ft tall.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I planted Little Marvels mid-March and picked the last few stragglers yesterday. Im on the border of zones 6 and 7, depending on which maps you look at. It was a cool late wet spring but has now turned hot and dry. Mine were in rows and spaced out some on the row, certainly not packed in like yours. The flowers were white, not purple or pink, and only a few got as tall as 18, very few. Thats why I grow Little Marvels. I dont have to support them.

This year mine produced for about two weeks. Usually it is a little less than that. I get a few early ones to eat on, then two major pickings, then a few stragglers for another meal. When I pull the plants a little later, I take any I find, which are overripe, and save them to go into soup later.

I cant remember where you are, but if yours start to produce, I would not expect the Little Marvels to last much longer than 2 weeks. But then, that is usually when it turns hot and dry here. Yours might be different.

 

[Major_Fawcett]

I was thinking about trying Little Marvels this year but decided to skip it this season. Maybe I will try it in my indoor grow box.

Major

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I planted Little Marvels mid-March and picked the last few stragglers yesterday. Im on the border of zones 6 and 7, depending on which maps you look at. It was a cool late wet spring but has now turned hot and dry. Mine were in rows and spaced out some on the row, certainly not packed in like yours. The flowers were white, not purple or pink, and only a few got as tall as 18, very few. Thats why I grow Little Marvels. I dont have to support them.

This year mine produced for about two weeks. Usually it is a little less than that. I get a few early ones to eat on, then two major pickings, then a few stragglers for another meal. When I pull the plants a little later, I take any I find, which are overripe, and save them to go into soup later.

I cant remember where you are, but if yours start to produce, I would not expect the Little Marvels to last much longer than 2 weeks. But then, that is usually when it turns hot and dry here. Yours might be different.

I am in Idaho zone 5B. I guess I am off I a month I looked and found a picture I took April 28th and they were up and by the size I planted around middle of April. I have very few that are 18 inches and most are around 36 inches and some more. At first it was just one purple and now there are several purple flowers. I have some support on the norh size, so those are standing and the middle so far is still standing and the south side are leaning in and I will have to dig for those. I will weigh all that I pick and see what I get. I bought Little Marvel for the same reason so I would not have to support them. I even ordered another 1/2 pound, but I am giong to build support before they are planted. By what Digits and you both are telling me I can plan on the peas most likely being finished before the end of July.

 

[catjac1975]

You can add small branches in the soil to try to get the peas to stand up. I only plant tall varieties-easier on the back to pick. I use pea trellis which last for many years. I also plant them very thick. The ripe season is not very long especially if it suddenly gets hot. I have not had any luck with fall sown peas but, I am think if trying again this year. Mine will be ready next week. They are about 3-4 feet tall and will reach 6 feet.

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

That is totally beautiful!!!!!!! I have some that are suppose to be 6 ft and they have support, but they are about 2 ft now. Your picture looks a lot like my Little Marvel. I am going to try to get some support in there so we can pick and the peas do not get ruined.