Grow Peas Like a Pro - EXPERT Tips For An OUTSTANDING Harvest 

I soak for 24 hours, put them in a container on top of a wet paper towel for another day or two until I see a tail grow. I get 100% germination.

Just a heads up, the common mycorrhizal inoculant "Xtreme Gardening: Mykos" does not contain any nitrogen fixing bacteria that would colonize the pea roots. It only contains Rhizophagus irregularis, which is an arbuscular mycorrhizae species, which is a beneficial fungus that studies have shown can help increase phosphorous uptake in plants. Which is great stuff and I use it myself, and I have no doubt that it has increased your yields. If you would like to innoculate the peas, make sure you're getting Rhizobium leguminosarum, because that is the bacteria species that forms the nodules on the pea roots and fixes atmospheric nitrogen. Like you said, there are a ton of different beneficial microbe brands out there, so you might be using something else, but it's a good thing for folks in general to check and understand! p.s If you'd like to check and see if your legumes are fixing nitrogen, you can gently dig up the plant and check to see if little nodules have formed on the roots. If you cut open these nodules they'll be pinkish in color due to the Leghemoglobin, which is rather similar to our own red blood's hemoglobin. A few species in Fabaceae (the legume family), such as honey locusts, don't form root nodules but still have a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium, and still fix some nitrogen, but not as much as the nodule forming species.

Even though you've already got like 3 or 4 other "how to grow pea" videos, I really appreciate that you keep making new ones.

I've been growing peas for 13 years (snap and snow). I pre-soak overnight (about 12 hours), plant them 1" apart, and don't inoculate (the year I experimented with it I didn't see any difference in our already high yields). We got our peas in the ground last week just before a few days of rain. My favorite snacking plant!

I learn something, or ten somethings 😂, from all of your videos. I have been gardening for 15+ years with mediocre results until i started watching your videos. Thank you so much for your time and knowledge. I haven't found anyone else that is even half as helpful.

Soaked my peas for about 24 hours and planted a few weeks ago. They are about 2.5 inches now. Already knew most of the stuff from watching you last year! Zone 6b

Being a “little pea-picker” was a term of endearment my grandfather used for his grandchildren. This was in the 1970s-1990s. It must not have been a big deal to him that “pea-picker” was a derogatory term for poor migrant farm workers during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression era. Born in 1914, he never was a migrant farm worker himself, but he grew up in Oklahoma so he was well aware of the origins of the term. Entertainer Tennessee Ernie Ford used the term as part of a nickname, “The Ol’ Pea-Picker Himself”.

I need a celery root video

Funny story. I had peas germinate when the ground warmed back up mid-January. These were seeds I planted back in November that never germinated! They’re doing great and we get a nice little crunchy snack every day. I just sowed some more last week and they’re all sprouting.

I've had poor success with peas in the past, even with inoculant. But I think the definition of what people consider "cool weather" was my definition of "cold weather" so I don't think I started them early enough!

I like to dirrect sow in rhe fall and they come up quickly and strong right after the snow is gone. Can't get any earlier than that. I am going to try fall sowing more crops in the future.

Thanks, Luke. I'm just south of Cleveland, OH and we've had a few gorgeous days. Last night I pulled out my pea seeds. We could get a frost this weekend, but I might just soak my peas tomorrow & get them planted. They will be in a pot with a trellis in full sun. Your timing on this video is perfect!

Yay! Thank you for the tips! You always help my garden grow big!😊 Planting today!

This is a very warm April in Michigan.

I got my seeds from you and had a massive harvest several times Feb/Mar. We were eating them fresh and with meals. Thanks for the tips, I did space further than necessary.

Thank you! You answered questions I didn’t know I had.

Voles will dig under the mesh:) you can’t put mesh everywhere. And I’m in central PA, zone 7a, my peas of different kinds grew all the summer. I really don’t get why MI, that is even colder, is different… maybe all my peas got afternoon shade or grew under filtered sun

My peas are looking great...already followed most tips except a good sized trellis which is easily fixed as I can extend the short one. Oregon Sugar Pod II

Last year I started growing my peas in a block of about 5-6 rows across a 4' raised bed, and it worked awesome! It requires two trellises. I find that four 6' T posts in each corner and lots of twine running back and forth as well as between the two trellises works great.

I've never grown peas but will do so this year, and I'll be sure to try what I saw in the video.

My pea seeds were direct sowed a week ago (not presoaked but immediately watered - I'll know next time) and today i noticed that they are are starting to sprout ... I am in Maryland btw so a bit warmer than Michigan. They are in a pot in the vegetable garden in a corner with a wire mesh fence on two sides and a tomato cage for support.

Got my peas from you the other day. Planting for later harvest this year. Cannot wait! ❤

Growing Tom Thumb bush type peas.

Too soon to plant here, still might be getting snow. Birds like to eat the tender shoots here so I need to keep netting on them until harvest.

I like to pre-germinate my peas. Keep them for a few days (5-6) with a moist paper in a ziploc bag, then I have great germination. I reckon if you leave them fully immersed for so long though you might drown them. I plant them as soon as I see the radicles getting plump and preparing to start off.

Evidently the squirrels around here haven't figured out they like peas yet! I planted last fall and still getting good harvest from the seeds i purchased from you. So simple and never had any problems with things bothering them

On my second round of peas here In cali Bay Area 😊

Luke, you always teach me the tips and tricks I don't know about yet! Very proud of how far my partner and I have come in three years of doing this and we owe much of it to you. Community gardens, a huge garden at home and a garden at my restaurant where I waitress! Dreams becoming reality and this year round passion is saving me from grief over the loss of my youngest brother so I guess you in turn help people like me continue living for something

Thank you! Was just about to plant my peas and onions today. Peas just got put in water and will wait 4 hours! Thanks again.

I'm in Michigan and I have rabbits, but especially woodchuck/groundhogs. They will eat anything people eat, especially peas and beans, the whole plants. And they climb up onto decks and even the railings. So chicken wire might if I wrap each pot.

I forget which one, but I planted one of your beans, and they sprouted so hard in just 2 days they pushed themselves out of the soil. No presoaking. I had to go push them all back down 😅 They are growing very well now.

The biggest mistake I’ve made with peas is putting my trellis right down on sprouts when they popped up. It seemed to make my plants a short dense brick of pea plants that were stunted and didn’t produce well. GIVE THEM A LITTLE SPACE!!

I never knew to soak them!

Got my peas soaked and direct sowed a week and a half ago. Super excited as a trellis is already in place!

every year little critters (squirrels) dig up my garden as soon as i plant. this year i thought i would try to stop them. i sprayed the garden with garlic oil diluted in my sprayer the same as you would to keep mosquitos away in the lawn. i am pleasantly surprised to see no damage in my garden since i sprayed. seems to be working well and was easy to do.

Hey Luke! Great video as always. We must have different rabbits here in MA as they eat EVERYTHING and peas are one of the first to go. Working on an auto-tracking laser defense system at this point.

I haven't had a vegetable garden for a long time, and this was a great reminder of how to get the most peas possible! Thanks.

Would the mycorrhizae that develop in wood chip mulch serve similarly as an inoculant?

Wow! That’s way more than I ever plant! Thanks for the tip!

I've not had germination issuss the past two ysars. This year I've had 2 sprouts up. So I'll try soaking my peas and planting more!

This year I planted my English peas in flats early. Then I transplanted them on both sides of the wire when it got warm outside. I'm harvesting peas now!

FYI: Legumes get Nitrogen thanks to bacteria known as Rhizobia. Mycorrhizal fungi are also beneficial, but more for Phosphorous than N.

Thank you for these helpful tips. This year I'd like to try using sunflowers as a trellis for my peas. I don't know if it will work, but my goal is to grow a living privacy screen. I would like to find plants that will climb a sunflower. I tried last year with beans and had no success. I had only slight success with pickling cucumbers.

I was just getting ready to soak my peas when this video popped up. Thanks

Thank you Luke. Always enjoy your videos and learn from you.

Thank you! Great suggestions. I've never raised Peas before. I will now give them a try, 👍

I am glad I saw this video today. I planted some peas 2 weeks ago and out of 20 or so planted, only about 4 have sprouted. Scratched my head a bit... But did I soak the peas before planting? NOPE! Completely forgot to do that. 🤣 The next round of peas are soaking and will be planted in a couple of hours. I usually plant them far apart so will try planting them closer---because I never seem to get enough peas!

Last year my first pea planting(April in zone 7b)had poor germination ( soil too cold) so replanted in May, thought it was too late, but had almost perfect germination and we had peas into mid July. They were watered daily in temps over 85, misted them on really hot days, had a terrific harvest. They will germinate in 70 degree soil temp so we also grow them in the fall.

Great video with good info, but next year do it earlier. Warm spring and I'm already harvesting my peas. 💚

I finally planted peas densely this year. Hoping it works out. Thanks Luke for reinforcing my planting plan.

Another predator is blue jays. They pull up anything new in the garden. They pulled up our onion start & lay them on the ground. They will dig up the pea seeds as well. To remedy the issue, we laid some small branches on the rows until the plants are growing, then remove the branches.

I love ALL MIgardener videos!

LOVE PEAS! We planted heirloom "Little Marvel Peas" back in February...and are harvesting loads of peas now ! Thankfully we have never had any problems with pests getting to them before we do and I'm glad because peas are one of my top fav garden snacks!

I always presoak my seeds in a dish with a south facing up magnet underneath. It helps germination immensely!

Awesome info that explains why i dont get many peas. Thank you!

hello from 7b just ate the first pod of my sugar snaps this morning.

I planted the beans that you had on your video the new beans the bush variety and they were slow germination very low germination but I did not soak them was that a mistake

Here in So Cal zone 9b I usually grow my peas in the late fall and winter. I've never inoculated my seeds before but will try it next season. Thanks for the helpful tips!

Still cool here in NJ…planted early enough didn’t know to soak ☹️. I do see them coming up now. Next planting season will definitely follow your advice.

Brilliant. Thanks, Luke!!

You just answered a couple of my problems. Soaking & spacing. I have already missed my planting window. Now I can try in late summer to fall if I remember correctly.❤

Because the nitecrawlers and slugs decimate my emerging peas, I now start in a rain gutter. Get them about 3in tall...then slide them into a furrow. It works to get past the pests.

Perfect timing for me! NE Nevada I'm sowing peas today and I happen to have a bag of Mykos on hand. Thanks so much!

as another MI gardener i can not believe that i have not found your channel sooner! and so close to your store location too 😭

Think I over soaked my seeds (overnight). Planted the a couple weeks ago and no sprouts yet. Think I’ll try again. North Idaho where it’s still cold.

Thank you!

The only thing I did was dense plant. I put them in the ground over a month ago. they are trellising and I am excited!!

I've got my peas starting to send out tendrils here in Northern Illinois. They were in the ground for a while, it got very chilly, but they look great now. I had presoaked them and coated them with inoculant so they should be happy and hearty little things. I picked Lincoln Peas and set up a teepee for them to climb.

LOL I have to chicken wire in my peas and beans even in a high raised bed. Buffett favorite for the bunnies and they can hop high.

Thank you luke 😊 ive never planted peas now, maybe next year since I'm to late this year.you make things so much easier ❤

I bought my seeds from in MiGardener, started my aweet peas inside the house, and had great germination rate. We planted them outside the end if March and they are doing well. I've already seen a few flowers on my plants. Thank you for all the great videos!

Plant 2 to 3 times. I still have fresh in the freezer from last year. Thanks Luke.

You taught me a ton about peas so Thank You!

I usually plant in mid-May but i watched a MI Gardener video about starting the garden too late and it getting hot too fast ... As a result i planted mid April giving plants like my peas, kale, radishes etc. some cooler weather mixed with warm before it moves to hot. I'm even considering starting my tomato and bell pepper plants this weekend for the same reason (they are already in all the stores and garden centers) hoping this will help the root system grow and establish so they explode when it gets hot and dry.

Unfortunately im behind the gun this year on my pea. In my area they die out in july from the heat

I planted 80 foot of peas this year!!

So dont soak just direct sow and water immediately after planting and doo it in the evening so the sun doesnt bake to water away.

Have you done a test of Mycos treated vs a non-treated planting of peas to see if it is actually more effective?

Luke, Good advice--thank you. 😊

weather didn't permit any earlier too much rain and i didnt know about thick planting

Great info Luke! Gonna try the inoculant. What gets my seedlings in the PNW is doves and quail. They will snip off a tender sprout and leave you with nothing but stubs. I bought some wire baskets from dollar tree and they work great.

Tip #6 is Chicken wire - are you saying to place it over the top of the bed?

Very helpful! Getting back to rabbits… any suggestions to keep them away from pea plants as they trellis up?

Okay, Luke, you convinced me to try peas again. I'll employ your tips!

Great video, thank you. I will soak my peas now to catch up. At my community garden there are some irritating small animals but it is pea weevils that are decimating my crop. Wondering if you have any ideas?

I think I have missed my window in southern Ohio (6b), but maybe not. I am going to give it a try. We have had some very warm (70+) days. But only a couple of nights above 60. I am getting 30s and 40s this weekend with an extended period of 60s during the day for the next couple of weeks. I have a partially shaded area in my garden that lives in the shade during the heat of the day. I am going to try for there. If not, I will know soon enough. Then I will just go for a fall harvest. Thanks for the video. Keep them coming.

great video

I live in zone 9b and planted my snap peas on March 1. I only bought a starter 6 pack and was wondering why they turned yellow/brown at the bottom. Now I know!! Is it too late to plant another 6 pack In between the first plants?

Thanks 🙏🙂

I started mine WAAAYYYYY too late last year. I think I got them started early enough this year, but i didnt soak. Oh well. Hopefully the soaking day and a half of rain after I planted will do the trick.

Grew some last year, was okay, but I'm going to do this with your advice this year. Also using a cattle panel for trellis.

A lot of gardeners don’t understand that young pea plants do not care about frost or snow, so there is little risk in planting this quintessential cool season crop early during the COOL season. They aren’t going to mature and start blossoming until May anyhow so if they sprout before your last frost date, they’re seriously going to be fine!

I have a cardoon plant in a pot by the house. Somehow, some pea seeds made it into the pot. Since the cardoon is more of an experiment than something serious, I was ignoring it until I noticed the peas. They looked like they had several weeks growth on them. So I decided that I should probably plant my peas. I’m growing a bush variety. My assumption is they won’t need trellising. The real point of this story is that where I live, I probably should have started my peas as early as March 1. I think it was closer to April 1. Zone 6b

Please make video on rosemary. Mine isn't growing well

I've had good success and do most of your tips, but I'll try the mycorrhizal this year. I'm planting next week so very timely. Thanks.

Thank you for sharing 👍

So glad to hear this. I always plant my seeds close like you said. But I always thought that I was a rebel since the seed packets say to space them further apart. (I do get good bounty when I harvest my mere 16 foot row) 2 rows this year. Should have enough for the freezer. Yum.

Is June too late to start the Sweet Gem Snap Peas indoors for container gardening?

Great reminder that I need to get my peas in the ground!

Thank you!!