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(Best months for planting Peas in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

• Easy to grow.
• Harvest in 65-80 days
• Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
• Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 24°C.
• Space plants: 5-8cm

Peas are best grown in cooler seasons. Peas need some support when growing, tree prunings with lots of small twigs are a cheap and handy source. Or else strings between posts or wire netting. the peas need tying in the early stages, until they start producing tendrils and clinging to the support.

Some pea varieties are called 'dwarf' but to make harvesting easier it is a good idea to support the plants.

Pick pea pods while young and pick them often to keep them producing.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Peas

Raw straight from the pod in the garden is best!
Raw in salads.
Steamed lightly.
Small pods can be steamed whole.

Your comments and tips

11 Nov 09 Mel (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

Hi! I am wanting to plant some peas but it looks like I'm WAAAAY out of season. Any chance peas planted now will produce pods over summer? Or am I stuck until next year?

27 Nov 09 Kai (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

Hi Mel, I have peas that have been planted out various times over the last couple of months (so also waaaay out of season) and they are producing perfectly filled pods of peas in large numbers. Some of the leaves seem to be getting a bit dry but they seem to be growing fine. They are at the back of each of the gardens they are growing in so protected well from direct sun, maybe that helps out of season? I don't know, I just planted them and they go so I guess you should be ok. Have both dwarf and climbing varieties.

15 May 10 Naomi (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Hi there, want to plant some peas, not sure how much one plant would produce. How many plants do i need to plant to feed a family of 3?

16 May 10 Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Naomi, if you sow in smaller amounts - say a1.5m row - then sow more every 2 or 3 weeks, you will have peas ready to use for a longer time. With peas it is always best to over estimate how many you will need as they are so delicious picked and eaten straight from the pod.

23 Jul 10 (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

that helped me a little bit.. thank you.

10 Nov 10 abi (New Zealand - temperate climate)

hi, can any one let me know why my peas keep dying! they get to around half a metre, start producing a good crop, then they appear to start dying from the base up, slowly but surely whilst the top of the plants are still producing peas! any tips would be appreciated:)

23 Nov 10 Ryan (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

I'm with abi, our pea plants area already dying, how long do they last? (They only start producing peas a few weeks ago)

07 Feb 11 Margaret (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Plant peas in March April for Christmas or earlier depending on the season.They grow aslowly over the winter. Planting peas later they often grow but do not do so well and later in the season ie after November they end up with mildew

20 Mar 11 Robert Coulter (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Q I have some pea pods unopened left over from xmas that i have kept dry Can i use them to grow for next season or do you have to buy1 seeds to start off.? I had a successful season of cherry toms (pure Luck) i'm not a gardiner

30 Mar 11 Sarah Taylor (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Hi Robert new to this site so dont know if anyone answered you. As long as your peas are in good condition and not split or have mildew or damage they should be good to plant. Mainly depends on whether they were hybrid stock or normal peas. Hybrids will not grow true to type. Your toms , as long as not hybrids, can have the seed saved on kitchen towel paper and used for the next season. Allow to dry and then put in a air tight container. Good Luck.