Growing Peas In Containers
Growing peas in containers is a relatively simple and straightforward process. Most varieties of peas adapt well to being grown in containers, but this is especially true for dwarf varieties.
Peas germinate pretty early, while the soil is still around 40 degrees F. They will grow very well as long as the weather remains relatively cool, but will stop growing rather abruptly as soon as the weather reaches around 80 degrees consistently.
Container gardeners actually have a really great advantage when it comes to growing early peas. If you can find a nice, sheltered area to place your containers, you might be able to start your peas outdoors as early as January! Even if you live in colder areas, you need to put your peas out by early March at the latest. People who grow peas in containers can expect to harvest their peas about two weeks earlier than traditional gardeners, to we have a really nice edge here.
Peas don't transplant well, so you need to plant them directly into their containers. You should use an inoculant when you plant your peas. It definitely helps with superior growth in peas. An inoculant is a special dust that contains beneficial bacteria that help peas pull nitrogen from the air and send it to their roots, providing extra nourishment. Not only that, but it will also enrich the soil the peas grow in for later seasons! Although it is possible these bacteria already exist in your potting soil, there is no way to be certain, so you should be sure to add an inoculant. This dust can be purchased at most garden centers.
Peas need some sort of support mechanism, so you need to choose which type of support you wish to use before you plant. You can use a trellis made of string, or a plastic grid. Although many dwarf and bush varieties can grow without support, they will all perform much better if given proper support. But it is important to have your support in place before you plant, because you don't want to risk damaging delicate roots when you put the support into the soil.
The roots of peas grow outwards more than down, so a wide, shallow container is best for growing peas. Peas should be planted about an inch deep if the weather is still very cold, but you only need to plant them about twice as deep as their size otherwise. It may take quite a while before you see the sprouts, but don't be discouraged. Once the peas do sprout, the plants will grow quickly.
Liquid seaweed fertilizers works very well for peas, but any fertilizers with a 1:2:1 ratio will work. They sould be fertilized about once per week as soon as the first flowers appear on the bushes.
When you water your peas, be very careful not to water the leaves. Because peas grow in cooler weather, they are prone to mildew, and if their leaves stay to wet, the risk of mildew is greater.
When the peas look ready to harvest, it is very important to harvest them carefully. Peas have very shallow root systems, and if you pull or yank the peas, you might pull the entire plant out of the soil! You should use clippers or scissors to cut the peas from the vines if possible. Otherwise, grab the main stem of the plant with one hand to secure it, and grab a pea pod with the other hand, lifting upward carefully until the pea comes off of the vine. It is important not to leave peas on the vine too long, because they can get tough and begin to taste bitter. Plus, if the peas are left too long, the plant will stop producing completely! You will probably harvest about a gallon of pea pods from each plant, perhaps two gallons for pole varieties.
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