Peas: planting and care

Peas have been grown in our country for several centuries. Earlier, before the appearance of potatoes, this plant was cultivated on a par with grain crops. Even now, experienced gardeners are trying to plant different varieties of peas in order to pamper themselves with a delicious product all summer long.

Pea varieties

There is 79 varieties this crop that is grown in our country. They are divided into several types:

• Sugar varieties are great for fresh use. Coarse fibers do not form in the valves of these varieties, so the peas of these varieties can be eaten right with them.
• Brain peas are excellent for making canned food and for freezing.
• And shell peas are usually sold dry in the store. It goes into cooking for soups and pea porridge.

Alpha peas are a pea-cultivator. This is a very small plant up to 15 cm in height. Its pods grow up to 7 cm in length and are distinguished by large round grains. It is used both fresh and canned food.

For the Ambrosia variety, a support is needed when growing, since it stretches up to 70 cm. This variety belongs to the sugar variety, so it can be eaten with the shutters. He has fleshy, tender and juicy peas that can be frozen or canned.

The Premium variety is distinguished by a very high yield. Up to 50 pods can be set on one plant. The bush turns out to be voluminous and lush and stretches up to 80 cm.

Peas Zhegalova 112 belongs to the sugar type with an average ripening period. It matures in 60 days. These peas form straight pods with 7 peas. The taste is very juicy, nutritious and sweetish.

Oscar peas also belong to mid-season varieties. It forms large peas with a diameter of up to 1 cm. It is customary to use it both fresh and frozen or for making canned food.

The early ripeness varieties include the Slider Sugar pea variety. It differs in that it does not need support for growth and has a very long fruiting period. Peas of this variety can also be consumed both fresh and canned or frozen.

Planting peas

Grow this vegetable is very simple, although it is quite demanding to care for. The best time for planting peas is the last decade of April, immediately after the soil dries out from the melted snow. If you choose early maturing varieties, then they can be planted in summer. First, the seeds need to be warmed up with a solution of boric acid. To do this, add 2 g of boric acid to a 10 liter bucket of water and heat to 40 degrees. Place the seeds in this solution for 5 minutes. Then dry the seed.

Choose sunny areas for peas where groundwater does not come closer than 1 meter to the surface. The soil should be light and fertile. In the fall, you can apply fertilizer to the selected area. It can be superphosphate and potassium salt, and in the spring, enrich the soil with saltpeter. For planting in the soil, furrows are made at a distance of half a meter from each other. The furrow should be about 6 cm deep and no more than 20 cm wide.

Now add compost and ash to each furrow. After that, sprinkle with soil. The furrow depth should now be halved. Sow the pea seeds, keeping the distance between the peas about 6 cm. Then sprinkle everything with earth. To protect crops from birds, cover the beds on top with a special film or net. A week after planting, the first shoots will appear.

Pea care

This plant is in great need of hydration. Lack of water leads to his death. Before the flowers appear, peas must to water once a week, taking into account the weather. Loosen the soil periodically so that a crust does not form. Watering the plant during the flowering period is necessary with plenty of water twice a week.

For tall varieties of peas, support is required. For this, a mesh stretched between the stakes is suitable. The lattice of the gazebo can serve as a support. In this case, peas can be planted even for decorative purposes.

When pea shoots reach a length of 8 cm, nitrogen is required fertilizers... Before the formation of flowers, the plants are fed again. To do this, use a mullein solution or fertilizer with trace elements, diluted in water. During the formation of fruits, fertilizing is also carried out with a solution of a mullein.

About 30 days after the beginning of flowering, the harvest begins. In green form, peas are removed every 2-3 days. To obtain seed, the lower pea pods must be allowed to fully ripen.

When ripening is complete, the tops must be cut off. The roots are dug up and chopped into pieces. They serve as an excellent fertilizer, so the chopped roots can be buried again for this purpose.