How to Grow Peas in a Greenhouse
Growing peas in a greenhouse allows you to have fresh peas all year round. Peas are well suited to wintering in a greenhouse, as they are much more cold-tolerant than other types of vegetables. In fact, warm weather often adversely affects pea pod production, so save the summer garden space for warm-weather plants instead. If you love peas and have a greenhouse, then this vegetable certainly deserves a place within it.
Keep the greenhouse temperature a minimum of 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use greenhouse lights from November to March. This ensures the pea plant vines do not grow excessively tall and thin.
- Growing peas in a greenhouse allows you to have fresh peas all year round.
- In fact, warm weather often adversely affects pea pod production, so save the summer garden space for warm-weather plants instead.
Prepare the soil in the containers. Peas prefer loose, well-draining soils with a pH of 6 to 7.
Add a 1-inch thick layer of fertilizer to the soil and mix thoroughly. Compost or dried manure works well.
Provide a support structure for the pea vines to attach to, such as lattice.
Choose a pea plant variety. Garden peas, also known as “shelling peas”, are most common. Sugar peas and snap peas are also popular and are the varieties used in stir-fries.
- Prepare the soil in the containers.
- Provide a support structure for the pea vines to attach to, such as lattice.
Plant the peas. If growing from seed, the seeds should be planted 1 to 2 inches apart, at depth of 1 to 1 ½ inches. If transplanting from starter plants, remove from starter container and gently place in new container at a depth that completely covers the plant's root system. Planting should take place in September.
Water the peas deeply, to the depth of 1 inch per week. Water should be poured onto the soil and not the plant itself, once the pea plant has sprouted.
Harvest pea pods at their peak. Garden peas are ready as soon as the pods appear swollen. Sugar peas are ready when the pods first plump up and snow peas when they reach their full length, which is usually 5 to 7 days after flowering.
- If growing from seed, the seeds should be planted 1 to 2 inches apart, at depth of 1 to 1 ½ inches.
Tip
To harvest peas, hold the stem of the pea pod in one hand and pull off the pea pod with the other hand.
Pea pods growing at the bottom of the plant often mature first.
Warning
Avoid using a nitrogen-rich fertilizer on peas. Nitrogen increases leaf production, while decreasing pod production.
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References
Tips
- To harvest peas, hold the stem of the pea pod in one hand and pull off the pea pod with the other hand.
- Pea pods growing at the bottom of the plant often mature first.
Warnings
- Avoid using a nitrogen-rich fertilizer on peas. Nitrogen increases leaf production, while decreasing pod production.
Writer Bio
Sophia Darby is a former professional hairstylist who has spent the last six years writing hair-related articles for both online and print publications. Her work has appeared in Celebrity Hairstyles Magazine, as well as multiple websites.
