Some peas do well in partial shade, or 4 to 6 hours of sun. When you go shopping for seeds, check the plant’s light preferences on the package’s label.
Beans and peas thrive in well-draining soil. If you have dense soil, add at least 10 to 15 lb (4. 5 to 6. 8 kg) of sand or well-aged manure and compost when you till. Try digging a shallow hole, then water it for about a minute with your hose. If the water sits in a puddle and doesn’t really drain, you’ll need to amend it with organic matter or sand. You can also pick up a handful of soil and form it into a ball. If it holds a compact shape and doesn’t crumble much, your soil is dense. [3] X Research source
The 3 NPK numbers refer to a fertilizer’s nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents. A 0-10-10 bag of fertilizer is 10% phosphorus and 10% potassium; the rest is substrate, or filler. Beans and peas don’t require much fertilizer, and they can absorb nitrogen from the air. Frequent or heavy applications will lead to abundant foliage, but fewer pods.
Find acidifiers and other soil amendments at a garden center. Read the instructions, and sprinkle the amount specified to meet your target pH. As a rule of thumb, sprinkle 4 to 8 oz (110 to 230 g) of sulfur per square yard or meter, then rake or hoe it into the soil. If your soil is too acidic, add an alkaline amendment, such as lime. It’s best to test and amend your soil’s pH during warm weather. Additionally, you should add an acidifier to your soil at least 3 months before planting to ensure it has time to take effect.
Green beans, lima beans, and dry beans (such as kidney beans) are common choices among gardeners. Many types of beans, such as green beans, come in both pole and bush varieties. Commonly grown peas include English peas, snow or sugar peas, and sugar snap peas. Like beans, many peas are available in both bush and climbing varieties. If you don’t want to put in the extra effort to install and build a trellis or pole, go with a bush variety. On the other hand, climbing vines could be a good choice if you like the look of a vine-covered trellis, or your garden backs up to a tall structure, like a fence. Beans and peas have delicate roots and don’t tolerate being transplanted. For this reason, it’s best to grow them from seed directly in the garden.
You could also use average air temperatures to estimate soil temperature. To find an average air temperature, add together a day’s high and low temperatures, then divide by 2. Find the average air temperature for the last 3 days. The soil temperature should be roughly equal to that number. Using this strategy, you can use forecast temperatures and predict when the soil will be warm enough to plant. In general, the best time to plan is mid-spring, or in mid-May for temperate climates in the Northern hemisphere. Consider staggering your planting if you plan on growing lots of plants. For instance, plant 5 one week, another 5 a few weeks later, then another 5 a few weeks after that. You’ll space out your crop instead of getting overwhelmed with a big harvest all at once.
You can find Rhizobia bacteria online and at garden centers. Rhizobia is a bacteria of the soil, and it fixes nitrogen by forming a symbiotic relationship with the legumes.
In general, space bush beans about 2 to 4 in (5. 1 to 10. 2 cm) apart. [8] X Research source Space pole bean seeds about 4 to 6 in (10 to 15 cm) from each other. [9] X Research source Plant pea seeds 3 in (7. 6 cm) apart. [10] X Research source
Don’t cover the planted seeds with soil until you’ve added the supports. The holes will help you keep track of where to place the supports. Since beans and peas have sensitive roots, you’ll need to erect supports when you plant the seeds. Doing so after they’ve sprouted could injure your plants. If you’re using a trellis, be sure that it doesn’t block sunlight from reaching the planted seeds.
Good soil contact will help protect the seed and encourage it to sprout.
Since too much moisture discourages germination, just get the soil damp, and don’t water it before planting as you might with other kinds of plants. Additionally, avoid planting bean and pea seeds right after heavy rain. Depending on the type of beans or peas you’ve planted, expect the first sprouts to appear within 1 to 2 weeks.
Water the planting area with a light spray to avoid injuring seedlings. As the plants mature, Try to water directly into the soil to avoid getting the leaves wet. Wet leaves can promote disease. To best way to prevent disease is to keep your plants’ foliage as dry as possible. Water earlier in the day so the sun can dry any moisture on the leaves, and don’t prune leaves or harvest pods when your plants are wet. [15] X Research source
Alternatively, if you’re using a trellis or fence, weave the vines into the rails as they grow. If you allow the vines to fall over, they could rot or tangle. The majority of bean and pea varieties have no trouble climbing a support after they get started.
Try sautéing your harvested pea shoots with a tablespoon of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a splash of lemon juice for about 1 minute. Not only are shoots good to eat, pruning your pea plants will encourage further growth.
Read your product’s instructions and use it as directed. If you want to avoid using chemicals, rinse away infesting insects with a sharp, steady stream of water from your hose. Be sure that the stream isn’t so hard that it’ll injure your plants. Remember to rinse away pests in the morning to prevent disease. [19] X Research source To combat aphids, you could also order ladybugs online and introduce them to your garden. They’ll eat the aphids, but leave your plants alone. Keep in mind that you may have to wait a season or 2 before you see any changes.
If you use slow-release pellets, carefully mix about a tablespoon into the soil around each plant. Alternatively, dilute a liquid fertilizer and apply it with your hose. Since beans and peas can extract nitrogen from the air, avoid using a nitrogen fertilizer. Too much nitrogen will lead to fewer pods.
Field peas and dry beans, such as kidney beans, should be left until the seeds develop completely. They’ll be ready to harvest when the pod easily opens. Avoid harvesting pods while the plant is wet. Wait for morning dew to evaporate to pick pods, and don’t water them right before harvesting.
Start the process all over again, and replant a bean and pea garden next year! Wet seeds will go bad, so don’t wash the seeds before storing them. For best results, choose another spot in your garden for next year’s crop.
