Pea
Peas are usually grown in the home garden
during the months too cold for beans. Compared to the latter they are
often regarded a poor proposition. There are now a number of prolific
and long-cropping climbing types, including the sugar or snow peas
which have edible and palatable pods.
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Requirements to Grow Organic Pea
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Same as for
beans.
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Planting time for Growing Organic Pea
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Sow in all but very frosty areas from
early autumn until spring. The pods rather than the vines are damaged
by heavy frosts, therefore in cold winter areas sowing can be timed to
give maturity when frosts are likely to be over. The average time from
sowing to maturity is 12-15 weeks.
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Cultivation for Organic Pea
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Climbing peas can be sown like beans,
spacing 2 seeds about 2 m apart every 8-10 cm along a row or base of a
trellis. Dwarf peas are set quite closely in a broad row about a span
wide with the seeds only 3-4 cm apart.
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Sow peas by making a spade-width furrow
5-6 cm deep, sprinkle the base with complete fertilizer using about
half a cup for every 2 m of furrow and cover with 3 cm of soil.
Sprinkle the seed over it 3-4 cm apart, cover with 2 cm of soil, gently
firm down and, provided the soil is already damp, give only a light
watering.
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Germination is often poor during wet
conditions, especially if the seed is planted deeper than 2 cm. This
problem can be minimized by dusting the seed with copper oxychloride,
Zineb, Captan or similar fungicide immediately prior to sowing. Do this
by adding half a teaspoon of the fungicide powder to the seed in the
packet, close and slightly balloon the pack and shake until the seed is
evenly coated. This gives some protection against fungi which could
destroy the seed during cold, wet and airless soil conditions.
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A few twigs placed along the row will
keep the peas upright and make them easier to manage. Peas picked and
used when the pods have just filled out have the best flavor. When left
on the vine or stored, flavor deteriorates as the natural sugars turn
into starch.
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Special problems in Growing Organic Pea
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Powdery mildew (an ash-like film over the
foliage) can be controlled by spraying with Bordeaux mixture or copper
oxychloride. Red-legged earth mites, tiny black insects with red legs
which cause the shriveling and collapse of vines, can be controlled by
spraying with Lebaycid or Rogor.
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