Pisum sativum
Pea
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Pea (Pisum sativum) - Description
The pea is most commonly the small spherical seed or the seed-pod of the pod fruit Pisum sativum. Each pod contains several peas. Peapods are botanically a fruit, since they contain seeds developed from the ovary of a (pea) flower. However, peas are considered to be a vegetable in cooking.
Pea (Pisum sativum) - Growth
Peas are generally rather cold hardy. They can survive temperatures down to 25ºF, but tend to suffer when the average daily temperature rises above 80ºF. Such high temperatures would cause the flowers to drop. Provide support for the growing stems. A trellis or a stake should be provided for the pea.
Pea (Pisum sativum) - Planting
Sow seeds directly in the soil in early spring when the soil is easily worked with and has warmed to at least 45F in the colder climates. Sow the seeds in successive 14 day intervals. This will provide harvestable crops for weeks in succession.
Pea (Pisum sativum) - Pest
Prone to aphids, botrytis, root rot, powdery mildew and fusarium wilt. Best to plant resistant varieties. Also rotate crops to avoid diseases. Use barriers to control slugs, rabbits, and woodchucks. Remove diseased and damaged pods.
Pea (Pisum sativum) - Interesting facts
Gregor Mendel, who is sometimes called the father of modern genetics, used peas as his model plant. He noticed that peas inherited certain traits from their parental plants such as yellow pea pods vs. green pea pods, short plants vs. tall plants and white flowers vs. violet flowers. During a span of around 7 years, Gregor Mendel tested roughly 28,000 pea plants.
Pea (Pisum sativum) - Soil and irrigation
Amend the soil with at least 1" of compost or composted manure. Since the peas form mutualistic relationships with nitrogen fixing bacteria, you can provide a rhizobial inoculant to the soil. This will inoculate the soil with the bacteria needed in this mutualistic relationship. These bacteria can be found in most soils, however, and an inoculation may not be necessary.Peas do best with soil that are consistently moist, yet are well-drained.
