English Peas

I am raising or trying to raise English peas for the first time and
the vines are not growing like everything else in the garden. They
are turning yellow. What is wrong? What is the cure?

With you being in Texas my first thought is it's probably getting too warm for them. When did you plant them? Would you post a photo?

http://myfolia.com/plants/49-pea-pisum-sativum/varieties/6369-little-marvel

Thanks for the responds. I am not able to send you a picture
for some reason. I suspect a loose nut at the end of the keyboard.
The peas were planted in late Feb. or early March. I am wondering
if it has to do with iron. Everything else in the garden is doing
great. Brocolli, turnips, cabbage, tomatoes, onions, shallets, blackeyed peas and squash. As for heat, well it has not been that
hot. I will try again to send a picture.
Luke

Luke Allen wrote:...... Everything else in the garden is doing
great. Brocolli, turnips, cabbage ,tomatoes, onions, shallets, blackeyed peas and squash. As for heat, well it has not been that
hot. Luke

Heat may be a relative term here, as 'hot' to peas may not be 'hot' to a Texan (says the CA girl now living in SD). You say that your tomatoes and squash are doing great - which leads me to believe that it may, in fact, be too hot for your peas to be doing well.

GG

Luke Allen wrote:The peas were planted in late Feb. or early March.

Google for your county extension service, they will have planting dates for your area(including cultivar recommendations, but those aren't a strict thing). I say this more for future reference, I fudge planting dates all the time.

However, if your winter was anything like my winter here in Louisiana(none-existent), then your peas are probably dying from the temperatures. I snipped of the stalks of my last few pea plants yesterday because they're doing the same thing as yours, and I know mine is from the warmer weather.

I even have a cole crop(not sure what it is) trying to regrow from its roots after I cut off its stalk and fed the leaves to my chickens, so that's not really an indicator(though my cole crops and lettuces usually bolt before my peas die off).

Our temps have been ranging from the 60's to the high 70's for the last couple of months, with a couple ventures in to the low 80's. Just in case that temp info helps.

Peas don't do well in temperatures greater than 80*F. It looks like you may have had several days of temperatures above that. Have you had any harvest from the vines? or are they all turning yellow and drying up now?

Well maybe the heat is the thing. I thank all of you that have
chimed in. This is the first time that I have tried to go peas. I
will do more investigation as to variety and heat tollerance next
time.
Luke

Maybe plant in January. Or even in the fall. Pea plants can take quite a bit of frost and cold temps no problem!

English peas are usually planted in the fall here. They will handle moderate freezes, but I lost mine when it went into the teens a couple years ago. Cole crops, except for cauliflower were unfazed. Cauliflower recovered and made a fine crop. This year I tried something different and planted the English peas February 1. They are just starting to bloom, and it looks like we might get some production. We'll see.

I planted my peas on 2/24/13. The variety was Burpeeana Early and Supper Snappy. Days to maturity is 63 days. This late cool weather should help getting them to maturity before it gets too hot I hope. Mine have not bloomed yet so I may have planted them too late. I think next year I might try starting them indoors in soil cubes to get a jump on the warm weather. Or maybe see how pollinators work planting that early.

I am going to plant my peas in the fall this year and in January
also and try to figure out which works best. The ones in the garden
now are blooming a little but just are not what I would call proper
growth or color. Thanks for all the help. As usual there are some
great friends in Square Foot garden land.
Luke

Pollinator wrote:This year I tried something different and planted the English peas February 1. .

Let us know how it works planting them on Feb 1. What variety of english pea do you plant. Do they need a trellis are they small bushy type.

The present type that I planted is a climber. I have a trellis.
As to variety I really don't have a clue. Any suggestions for
my area would be appreciated.
Luke

I have tried planting in the fall and I guess I picked the wrong date. I planted these the first week in Jan. Peas love cold weather when the plant is growing, but won't bloom or bear til it warms up some. They Can handle some heat, if the plant is grown during the cooler weather. You might try watering at night so the roots are cooler for a longer period of time.Also some mulch ,leaves at base of plants. Here are some pics of mine, snow peas, snap peas and shelling english peas, don't know which pic is which one.
Jo

JO! your pea plants are beautiful! Looks like you'll be swimming in peas next week. What are you going to do with them all?

We love chinese food, and the snow peas are great. A great deal of the peas never make it in the house. They are so sweet and are not starchy in the garden. Just a tad of blanching and into the freezer. We just finished all the peas from yr. before last!
Jo