Planning for Fall Pea Growing

11 years ago

My spring pea patch is just about over and I leave some pods to set seeds. I grew Snowbird snow pea and Cascadia sugar snap. I do not know if the seeds would come true. I'm going to plant them. I also have some left-over seeds from spring time.

Several lessons learnt from spring planting (my first year). My bed is at the front of the bed, with deer fence in the front. This makes it very hard to harvest since the bed can only be accessed from one side. Also, I did not support the young plants until they grew large. I was somehow fooled since a lot of the sources say the peas do not need support. This is just not true. It is just very hard to step into the middle of the beds to find the pods to pick. Besides I have to battle serious weed problems.

For fall planting, I plan to move into a new area, a 4 1/2' wide row with ready access from both sides. I think I'm going to plant the seeds in two double rows. Metal wire mesh should be installed in the middle of the double row. I'm thinking about 4' tall wires. I may mulch with wood chips to control the weed problem.

The bed will be 2 sections with each about 10' to 15' long. Would like to pick some pea greens if this does not affect the yield much.

Anything you'd like to add?

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Comments (4)

Peter (6b SE NY)
11 years ago
My spring Sugar Snap peas... I had no problems harvesting, and they would be thicker if not for a groundhog getting into the garden and deer nibbling what they could get through the fence.

The trellis is leftover metal stakes and galvanized wire from the fence. It is durable and movable.

I am going to plant a smaller Fall crop the first week in August, and plant more beans for the rest of the trellis this weekend.

They are pretty close to dead now.
RedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
Original Author
11 years ago
I'm going to keep them for one week and get the pods to produce peas. Then I'll cut them down.

Either rabbit or groundhog cause some damage to my seedlings at beginning. But they do not bother mature plants. I've taken out 9 grounghogs and I hope they are gone for now. But I'll still protect the baby seedlings. Not sure if birds eat them....

I'll probably plant a bit more. So I can harvest some mature peas. I like the taste of sugar snap better than the snow peas. Somehow the snow peas lose the tenderness very quickly. Not sure if that is the problem with this variety.
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Peter (6b SE NY)
11 years ago
Sounds like you need a fence.

I do highly recommend the original AAS Sugar Snaps. They were great. Vigorous, high producing, didn't fizzle out fast in the heat. Not sure if they are the best for the Fall though.
RedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
Original Author
11 years ago
I already have the deer fence. I may try some different kind of snow pea. I'll have to get the sees through the mail. Stores seeds are gone.