Pea
Pisum sativum
The garden pea is a cool-season climbing legume grown for its seeds and pods. It is one of the earliest crops to sow in spring and fixes nitrogen to enrich the soil.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Keep evenly moist
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
The garden pea (Pisum sativum) is a climbing annual legume in the Fabaceae family, one of the oldest cultivated crops, grown since the dawn of agriculture in the Near East. It was famously the subject of Gregor Mendel's genetics experiments.
It is a cool-season crop sown early in spring. Types include shelling (English) peas grown for the seeds, snap peas with plump pods, and snow peas with flat pods.
Like other legumes, peas host nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots, improving soil fertility.
How to identify it
Pea is a slender climbing legume with tendrils and pale pea-like flowers.
- Leaves: Compound, blue-green, ending in curling tendrils that grip supports
- Habit: Climbing or bushy vine, 2 to 6 feet, depending on variety
- Flowers: White (sometimes purple), pea-shaped
- Pods: Green, swelling with round seeds; plump in snap types and flat in snow types
- Tendrils: Modified leaflets used for climbing
Care & growing
Peas are easy and among the first crops of the season.
- Light: Full sun, tolerant of light shade
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist, especially during flowering and pod fill
- Soil: Well-draining, moderately fertile soil; pH 6.0 to 7.5
- Temperature: Cool-season; thrives 55 to 65 F and tolerates light frost. Heat ends production.
- Feeding: Minimal; peas fix their own nitrogen, so avoid heavy nitrogen feeding
- Propagation: Direct sow seed early in spring (and again in late summer for fall). Provide a trellis or netting for climbing types.
Habitat & origin
The pea was domesticated in the Fertile Crescent of the Near East and the Mediterranean thousands of years ago and is among the founder crops of agriculture. It spread early across Europe and Asia.
It is grown throughout temperate regions worldwide as a cool-season crop, sown in early spring or autumn.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant peas?
Peas are one of the earliest crops; sow as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring. They tolerate cold and even light frost and stop producing once summer heat arrives.
Do peas need support?
Most climbing and many semi-dwarf varieties produce best with a trellis, netting, or twiggy brush to climb. Truly dwarf bush types can manage without.
What is the difference between snap, snow, and shelling peas?
Shelling (English) peas are grown for the round seeds inside the pod; snow peas have flat, slender pods; snap peas have plump, rounded pods. The types differ mainly in pod and seed form.
Are sweet peas the same as garden peas?
No. Ornamental sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are a different genus grown for their flowers, and are not the same plant as the garden pea (Pisum sativum).
Pea guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Pea.
