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Gardening 101: Peas

Sweet, green, and crunchy, is there anything better than eating snap peas straight out of the garden? Nope!

Peas are easy to grow and they can handle a little frost, making them well suited for Wyoming gardens. Like many vegetables that do well in Wyoming, peas should be planted in the early spring because they do not like the hot weather. However, in some areas they can be planted between July 1-15 for fall harvest. Peas can be stored by freezing for later use- if you don’t eat them all first!

Planting

  • Plant seeds 1-inch apart in rows 18 to 24 inches apart.
  • Later, thin plants to 3 inches apart in the rows.
  • Pea varieties vary in height from 18 inches to 6 feet tall. It may be helpful to grow taller varieties of peas next to something they can climb, like a trellis, wire fence, or chicken wire stretched between stakes.
  • Water peas regularly, especially once the pods begin forming.

Harvesting

  • Harvest when pods are still flat, before the seeds start to enlarge.
  • Pick peas consistently to stretch out the harvest season.

Suggested Varieties:

  • Edible-pod: Dwarf Gray Sugar, Little Sweetie, Oregon Sugar Pod II, Snowbird, Snak Hero
  • Snap peas: Sugar Ann, Sugar Daddy, Sugar Snap, Super Snappy
  • Garden: Early Alaska, Little Marvel, Maestro, Mr. Big

Happy gardening!

Information summarized from UW Extension publications by Katie Shockley, Writer/Editor, University of Wyoming Extension Communications & Technology.

Sweet, green, and crunchy, is there anything better than eating snap peas straight out of the garden? Nope!

Peas are easy to grow and they can handle a little frost, making them well suited for Wyoming gardens. Like many vegetables that do well in Wyoming, peas should be planted in the early spring because they do not like the hot weather. However, in some areas they can be planted between July 1-15 for fall harvest. Peas can be stored by freezing for later use- if you don’t eat them all first!

Planting

  • Plant seeds 1-inch apart in rows 18 to 24 inches apart.
  • Later, thin plants to 3 inches apart in the rows.
  • Pea varieties vary in height from 18 inches to 6 feet tall. It may be helpful to grow taller varieties of peas next to something they can climb, like a trellis, wire fence, or chicken wire stretched between stakes.
  • Water peas regularly, especially once the pods begin forming.

Harvesting

  • Harvest when pods are still flat, before the seeds start to enlarge.
  • Pick peas consistently to stretch out the harvest season.

Suggested Varieties:

  • Edible-pod: Dwarf Gray Sugar, Little Sweetie, Oregon Sugar Pod II, Snowbird, Snak Hero
  • Snap peas: Sugar Ann, Sugar Daddy, Sugar Snap, Super Snappy
  • Garden: Early Alaska, Little Marvel, Maestro, Mr. Big

Happy gardening!

Information summarized from UW Extension publications by Katie Shockley, Writer/Editor, University of Wyoming Extension Communications & Technology.

Additional Resources

Learn more about growing peas with these resources from the University of Wyoming Extension:

Next up: Green Beans [Coming September 4]

Sesame Snap Peas

This quick side dish or snack is crunchy, savory, and bursting with flavor. Use all snap peas or add some of your other favorite veggies for a splash of color on your plate.

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This newsletter is a collaboration of the following programs:

* The Cent$ible Nutrition Program is funded by USDA SNAP-Ed and EFNEP. SNAP-Ed assists individuals and families who receive, or are eligible to receive, benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). EFNEP assists families and youth with limited resources  in acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and changed behaviors necessary for nutritionally sound diets and contributes to their personal development and the improvement of total family diet and nutritional welfare. Visit our income-qualification page to learn more. 

This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. This material was funded by USDA’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program-EFNEP. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Issued in furtherance of extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Kelly Crane, Director, University of Wyoming Extension, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming Extension, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071.

The University of Wyoming is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

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