How to Grow Peas // Complete Growing Guide 

As a child my father had some acreage in the country (we lived in the city, northern climate). He supplemented his income by growing our own veggies & with a little truck farming on the side. I loved the fresh peas & would eat so many of them raw while I was shelling them my mother would say I would get sick (I never did). In my area the only fresh peas you can find are the snow peas. Those are all fine and good but I agree with you that nothing compares with fresh shelled peas. Having fresh shelled or sugar snap peas is something I missed a lot so this past Spring I grew my own. They never made it to the kitchen. Next year I need to plant more. 😂

My dog loves peas right off the plant. I grow a few just for him. He'll pull them off himself. 😊

Agree about the taste of homegrown peas. Lady😢 year my peas never made into the house because I was eating them! So, I’ll be planting a lot more this year!

Thanks Brian for your great info. I didn't have any problems with the bird's. They were too busy at my feeders. Most birds just went in for the bugs. Good to hear from you!

NOTHING beats fresh peas! My mom loved to grow her peas, but in Michigan it's often a challenge. I can hear her saying "Yes!" to your tips! She wouldnt letme pick or shell them, as more ended up in my tummy than the bucket or bowl! I had a neighbor in the early 80s, an elderly gentleman who was an accomplished gardener. I don't recall what he did with his peas, but he always had the most beautiful crop, and plenty to share from his 1/2 acre lot. Wish I could have picked his brain!

There is nothing better than fresh grown peas!

Started Sugar snap peas today, inside. It's only April 3rd, and my last frost date is April 15th. I have never had trouble with peas. Yay. Thank you.

I moved from California to Colorado and I can tell you the gardening experience has been a learning curve. Shorter growing time and longer hot summers. It's very dry here. I've tried peas a couple of years and they never got to the flowering stage before dying. My fault, as I learn from your video. Plant earlier, regardless of how I feel about the colder weather. DO NOT start indoors as they don't like transplanting. And of course fertilize along the way. Thanks for your wonderful tips. Even though you are in a different zone I appreciate you sharing the tips in my zone. Love, love, love your videos.

I grew green peas for the first time in 2023. They were delicious. I froze some but most were eaten raw by my grandkids. They loved them!

Nothing beats fresh peas!!! We are in zone 8b and grow both shelling and snap peas. We grow in the spring and fall. We freeze some as well, which are still tasty, but of course not the same as fresh! I found last winter they are really easy to grow in the greenhouse! This winter I have them in hanging baskets in the greenhouse and are doing great!

"...and it's time to die" LOL. Great video. I like the idea of growing them on my tomato strings. They will look so pretty :)

I love your board and baton siding on your house. My ranch home I grew up in for 18 years reminds me of yours. The eucalyptus trees etc. I grew up in the 50s in Villa Park CA. Daddy and I always kept the garden also had citrus, avocado and stone fruit trees. I love your videos. Takes me back to some of the best years of MT life

Yes! Peas straight from the garden taste the best!!!

Totally agree with taste on home grown tomatoes and peas but also strawberries and raspberries 😋

I totally agree. I didn't eat peas until I tried one that I picked from the plant and the difference in taste was worlds apart from shop bought. I grow peas every year now and most of them don't make it to the kitchen because I eat them as I pick them. I can't grow them until next spring though

AWESOME, double feature today! BELLA loves to garden how sweet to see her next to pawpaw inquiring mind and snout looking on...shes delightful! What a great puppy, obvious dads little girl!

I completely agree with your comments about the taste of Home Grown Peas & Tomatoes...

Thank you!! I have so little space, I need to put peas into my tomato raised beds to prepare for next season!! love love love peas!!

The voles ate my September peas! Gotta plant more now. Zone 9B.

100% agree on the taste. Same for Asparagus!

I agree with the seed being natural instead of covering with innoculation

I like how you sow your seeds thicker then what the seed packet says. 2 seeds every inch or 2. I sow mine even thicker then that. I do a 4 inch wide trench and just sprinkle them down the row. I just get more peas that way. Thanks love your videos.

I started a gardening club at my school and my students learned to love peas from eating them off the plant. Not one pea made it home, they were picked and munched down as they ripened. Now My son does the same with our balcony container peas.

I had peas growing under heavy frost blanket last winter, through our crazy heavy winter last year. I was amazed. They were in the same bed as mustard green and lettuce, didnt even trellis. There were weeks that i couldn't get out there. Had great little harvest. Still finishing the mustard greens I froze last year. Zone 8b, Tehachapi mountains.

It’s so cute how Bella is interested in gardening also. 😊😊

I planted my 2nd crop of peas in 8b in September and right now they are looking great, just about ready to blossom and set peas, cannot wait. Also, I will try eating the tendrils to see how they taste.

Thanks Brian. I saved the video so I can rewatch this spring. Snows on its way here. 🎃🍁🍂💚🙃

Okay Brian, you’ve inspired me to plant some peas on my teeny, tiny patio. Sending love and hugs to you, Emilie and Noah. I enjoyed seeing Bella’s legs working right along with you. ❤️🤗❤️

This is amazing, thanks for the tips! Nothing like freshly grown peas ❤

They are the best! Blessings 💞🤗

Also use the pea leaves and the soft sprout vines. Smashed garlic, dash of (unsalted) soy sauce, (maybe a little unsalted sweet cream butter or clarified/ghee butter), and stir fried. Absolutely sweet and delicious just by itself.

I love the double duty that you get from those tomato trellis's! Love peas! Thanks for a great video!

I have only ever had peas in the can. I will only eat the early sweet variety because I find larger peas too pulpy. I am really glad you posted this when you did because I was just about to go out start planting my first ever crop of peas. I have chosen the Lincoln variety because I seemed to recall in a previous video that you said it was a good one. As a trellis I am going try hanging some bird netting on the PVC I have used for my tomatoes. I figured this will make it easy for the plants to find the "trellis" and I don't have to mess with hanging a bunch of new strings as I had to take down the old ones as they had rotted some and were very weak. I am only planting about four feet of peas since this is my first attempt, but if all goes well I will plant a larger crop next time around.

Got some really healthy peas growing here in South Australia, (mid Spring, zone 9) thanks for the extra advice Brian!

Great video! I planted Lincoln peas for the first time last year! Oh my! Those peas never made it to the house.... delicious! Planting a ton more this year. Thanks for the tips!

Well you’ve convinced me! I’m going to try them. I really have disliked peas my whole life. 😂

Thank you so much. I did make mistakes last year growing them. Didn't fertilize enough. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us. Planting snap peas tomorrow.

Bella loves it.

Last year it wasn’t birds who demolished the pea vines it was my dog! ❤

I really like shelling peas i buy frozen ones am sure home grown is better but for me its to late to plant. Would get seeds for next growing season, I will revisit this video on peas.

I started my garden Because I knew that there was a taste difference between store and grown yourself.

Love my sweet peas. Michigan don't allow sowing untill late March, or later 😢

I’ve only ever had peas frozen or canned, however, this year I have planted several different varieties of peas, and I’m excited to try them! So far the plants are doing terrific!

"the more you pick, the more they produce" thats what i always say about my raspberry plants, it always seams like if i eat alot, they make alot, if i only eat a little, they only make a little. Ive always wondered if it was what was actually happening, and what other plants might do it. Good to know.

I planted peas about a month ago.. and again a week ago. The ones I planted are dwarf bush varieties and each one is in a one gallon grow bag. I soaked them until I had germination and then planted. I didn't know about fertilizing.. I'm on it now.

Grandpa always grew peas❤❤❤❤❤

Thanks Brian. 🎃🍁🍂💚🙃

Fresh (and homegrown) vegs in anything - tastes so much more healthy and nutritious. Fresh carrots, onions, garlic, chives, and PEAS in a shepherd's pie (or any pot pie) is totally different from putting in anything canned - making it taste like road kill.

I only made the mistake of buying shelled fresh peas at the grocery store once. Yuck. Starchy and not sweet at all. But sugar snap peas are one of my favorite garden snacks...they often don't make it into the house at all. 😏

I'm growing "Sugar Daddy Peas" this season as well in Zone 9B. This is my very first time gardening, so I'm excited to see if I'm successful. I just sowed my seeds last weekend. My mom bought tulle from Walmart yesterday and we plan to use it for the same thing! (Pest protection 🙂). I'm currently on a budget, so I won't be able to purchase fertilizer, but I'm wondering if you can share what type of natural products can be used for pea fertilizer?

My peas hate the summer months where I live, they never survive the summer. I planted new peas in late summer and they are loving the cooler days and nights, but I am waiting for some pods to appear from the flowers. Same with my string beans.

If the birds don't pick the early shoots, the mice/voles get em. We arent the only ones that garden peas 😆

I copied your trellis, it’s awesome!

I've never had a fresh pea. Now I'm curious 🤔

I noticed you were removing you mulch which brings me to a question. I normally use EZ straw but have some pine shavings around that I normally used for the chickens nesting boxes. Can I use my pine shavings that I haven’t used yet for mulch top in my garden?

My understanding is the reason for an inoculant is so the peas or beans will be able to draw nitrogen out of the air and use it for their roots. I may be wrong but thats my understanding.

Nice shot of the “peas” 😆😆 aren’t those kale?

Fresh peas makes the best pea and dumplings .

❤❤❤❤

I planted peas two weeks ago and only one came up. I now am soaking the peas to replant tomorrow.

Thank you… I’m gonna see about throwing some down right now… what’s the depth to push the seeds into? I’m in texas

Greetings, do you plant broad been?

You recommended liquid fertilizer.. but what are the numbers? What do you use for a granular fertilizer? I use a 4-4-4 for most everything unless of course it prefers something different. Thanks

I have grown peas over the summer. Peas are way bigger than in the can.

Are tomato cages okay to use?

I just soaked some in water.

I need to try again. Last year the shoots came up and then died. Due to lack of attention I am afraid. Today we are 90 again. Hard to tell when the cooler weather is here to stay.

I'm not sure if it was the crows or the raccoons that ate my peas last year. This year I know that the raccoons are for sure digging up my garden. I think they're looking for worms as I had spread compost with a lot of worms in that particular bed. They are only digging up that one particular bed though they slightly disturbed a large grow bad with oregano and peppers. They dug up, but did not eat, my lettuce, cauliflower, and spinach seedlings, but they did not touch the chives which were quite mature. I tried netting draped over PVC pipe and secured with garden staples and bricks. Those four-legged steam shovels got by the netting, staples and bricks. After several variations on covering the bed, I've given up for the time being. I'm thinking that chicken wire might be a better way to go. Any recommendations?

Where is the best place to buy pea plants

Part of this post doesn't have to do with pea's... I live in Sweden, similar zone to mid to lower BC Canada where I used to live. I have now got all of my hard neck garlic in the ground, a bit deeper than if I would have lived in a less cold zone. I have issues with getting my hands on straw... Don't have grass clippings, since I have a "forest property". My "grass" is soft green moss... Much less maintenance... LOL Leaves really don't exist on my property as most of the trees are of the Pine tree variety. Pine needles is not really an option either as most of the pine trees out here are the short needle type... I do have and abundance of the type of pine wood shavings that I use for the chicken coop and for the horses. Can I use those thin "curly" wood shavings to mulch my garlic or, will they be compacted so much by the end of winter that they'll smother the garlic??? When it comes to planting peas, I have planted some peas as well as a few other seed types, same time as my garlic and when they start growing come spring, it tells me that it is getting very close to being able to plant my other seeds.

Yes, I agree anything but peas from the garden are awful, but also I don't like peas other than snow or snap peas. I grow them every year! And in the Monterey bay area that is almost all year!

I grew sweet peas for the first time this year and while the plants are green, healthy, and about 5 feet tall, only one plant flowered and produced peas. What did I do wrong?

Fresh pea pods taste like summer..... says the person from the north

Peas, like beans, tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, peppers, and chilis are fertilizer vampires. The more you fertilize, the bigger the plants and production.

Canned peas are horrible. Store bought frozen peas are ok, but I totally agree. There's nothing better than home grown.

I only eat frozen Peas

Fresh Peas are the bomb. Don't taste anything like store bought

I'm so glad you said Pick and not Harvest...over used word by too many people. By the way watch The Dimming!!!

Canned peas are DISGUSTING. I grow peas all the time. I can barely get enough into the house, I just eat them as I work in the garden!