| |
| |
How to Grow Snow Peas
Snow peas may have been named because in
bright sunlight their light green pods
look as if they might be tinged with
frost. One of the oldest vegetables, the
earliest recorded pea was grown in 9750
BC on the Thai-Burma border. Since snow
peas are a favorite addition to Asian
dishes, this pea might very well have
been a snow pea ancestor.
In the large family of legumes, the snow
pea (pisum sativum macrocarpon) is a
flat-podded pea that bears both pods and
seeds that are sweet and edible.
Snow peas aren’t particular about
soil quality, but they do need good
drainage. Plant snow pea seeds about
2-inches apart and one to two inches
deep. Snow peas grow best in full sun,
but in an area where plants receive some
shade from the midday sun as the season
progresses.
Peas are a cool weather crop. Although
snow peas adapt better to higher
temperatures than regular peas, for best
results you should sow seeds as soon as
the soil can be worked. For best
germination, keep soil moist yet be
careful not to over water, since
saturated soil will cause your seed to
rot. In fact, the biggest problems you
face in growing snow peas are root rot
and powdery mildew, both of which begin
in soil that is too wet. However, once
seeds germinate, plants need to be
watered regularly for optimum harvest.
Because they are legumes, there is no
need to fertilize snow peas. In fact,
legumes make their own fertilizer and are
often grown as cover crops to replace
lost nutrients to soil. However, snow
peas, like most varieties of peas, are
climbers and grow best with the support
of a trellis, fencing, or beanpole.
When temperatures reach a steady 70
degrees, the rate of growth slows and
plants begin to die. Harvest peas when
pods are about three inches in length but
still flat. You’ll need to use your
snow peas soon after harvest since they
quickly lose their sugar content after
they’re picked.
|
|
|
| |
|
