3-Seventeen = Green.

Give peas a chance.

Along with dill, leaf lettuces, onions, radishes and turnips, peas are an early crop, as they do not tolerate temperatures above 70˚F very well. Peas need cooler soil to germinate, so traditionally sweet peas are planted on St. Patrick's Day when soil temperatures are in the 50-60˚F range. To protect from frost or air temperatures under 50˚F, use cloches or use a trench planting method (more on these techniques later).

This year I am planting peas I obtained during a visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Peas were his favorite vegetable, in fact, he grew over 23 varieties of peas in his vast gardens. I picked up one of his favorite varieties — 'Marrowfat' Pea (Pisum sativum), and also 'Prince Albert' Pea (Pisum sativum 'Prince Albert').

Sowing one-inch deep and four-inches apart, both of these pea types grow to heights of four feet and will require a six-foot tall support structure (like a bamboo tepee or a trellis of long branches) for their vines to climb. This can provide a point of sculptural interest in your garden, so have fun with the placement and design of the structure. If space is an issue, there are also many 'bush' varieties.

Peas prefer a cool, moist environment. They thrive in a sunny spot, but tolerate partial shade. They like compost-rich loam with a pH of 6.5 and good drainage to prevent rot. A net covering may be necessary if you have hungry birds in the vicinity of your garden. Try not to disturb the vines, as they can be easily damaged.

Once pods are plump and smooth, try to pick them as often as possible. This will ensure sweetness and also encourage more pods to form, resulting in a higher yield. You can freeze fresh peas to extend the harvest.

Peas are also nitrogen-fixers, but we'll save this subject for another day.


I soaked the Prince Albert Peas in warm water for one hour before seeding. Normally I would sow the peas (shown here on March 31, 2009) directly into the ground, however masons are working in my garden space, so I am starting them in trays and will gently transplant them once the masons are done.