Sugar peas and their yield

Last year I planted sugar peas in 50' of traditional row. It was not worth the effort I put into it. I love the flavor but they just did not do well. This is the first year SFG. I have 8 squares left in my onion box. I am thinking of planting them in peas (I use wire fencing for a trellis). What kind of yeild have you all experienced in SFG plantings? I am not doing much since my frustration level was very high last year I live in the very NE tip of MD.
Thanks

I have grown sugar snap peas the last couple years in my SFGs. I had never grown them before so I wasn't sure how many I would need to plant to get enough to feed a family of four. I planted 2 squares with 8 peas in each in the first year and 4 squares of 12 peas in the second year but I still need to plant more.

The first year (2 squares), my snap peas only produced a couple handfuls but not all at once, so there weren't enough for a side to a meal for 4, maybe 2 separate sides for one person. Year 2, I planted 4 squares. This was better, we did get enough peas for a couple meals for 4 but we would still like to have more. I will plant 8 squares this year and see if this is better.

I am glad that I planted snap peas because if they had been regular peas there would not have been very many once the pods were removed. The succulent pods certainly added more volume to the peas. They are really yummy/sweet and can be eaten with minimal preparation -- no need to shell the peas, just eat pod and all.

I am not sure if the pea production I am seeing is typical or not? I was expecting them to be more productive than they were. I have had problems with beet, radish, and turnip production -- get lots of tops/leaves but no roots; also get big, large broccoli plants but no or very small heads (all these problems occurred 2 years in a row; my first 2 years at SFGing). My SFG Mel's Mix may have a nutrient deficiency that could be affecting pea production too. After a lot of research online, this potentially due to a phosphorus shortage although I am not certain about this. I'll have to try to find some better compost or to experiment with bone meal this year to see if I can remedy this.

Has anyone else had success with their peas? How many peas do we need to plant to get enough peas for several meals?

I planted 3 squares of snap peas and 4 squares of two other varieties this year. It is my first year at this, so I will see. However, my friend planted some last year and said she had so many peas she didn't know what to do with them. I didnt want to plant to many because I was afraid they would go crazy. I'm worried now that I maybe won't get very many at all. I would be interested in hearing what success or problems others have had so I can be watching for what they should do.

We Planted sugar snap peas in the fall and harvested from them from thanksgiving-March. They slowed down in March and I wanted the space for tomatoes, so we have now taken them out. We planted 4 squares 8 in each. We mainly used ours for salads and fried rice. As long as you continue picking, they continue to produce. My nephew would go out everyday and pick at least 3-5 or more a day and eat them right off the vine. I highly suggest peas they are yummy! I will have way more squares next year so I can freeze some. It gets to hot here in the summer for peas.

Great posting in this thread! Thanks for sharing how you have adjusted from season to season. I, myself, have 3 squares of 8 going, but don't know what to expect. I may give another square or two to peas since I want them to become a frequent side dish this spring.

Muchas Gracias! And, a great question from the OP...old In Living Color joke coming......I give you "Two 'snaps' around the salad bowl and back!"

I never seem to get more than a couple of handfuls at a time from 3-4 squares, but I put them in stirfrys, so that's perfect.

BackyardBirdGardner wrote:old In Living Color joke coming......I give you "Two 'snaps' around the salad bowl and back!"

That was soooo bad!

dizzygardener wrote:

BackyardBirdGardner wrote:old In Living Color joke coming......I give you "Two 'snaps' around the salad bowl and back!"

That was soooo bad!

I think I will give it a try. If only small yields then we will put them in our salad.

I planted 4 squares (12-15 per square) of Sugar Ann snaps last year, sowed the seed pretty heavy and had healthy plants and a good yield. You can see sowing day here and fruit on the vine here.

You guys convinced me to put in another couple squares of super snappy snap peas. Hopefully I won't be drowning in them. Lol

dizzygardener wrote:You guys convinced me to put in another couple squares of super snappy snap peas. Hopefully I won't be drowning in them. Lol

They freeze really well.

I always thought that I got a good yield with snap peas, averaging about a few hundred pods a year. But when I divided it by the number of plants, I was amazed that it averaged only 4 pods per plant. Interesting.

Thanks for the pics camprn. It is raining today but I think I will put some in tomorrow.

If you all get a chance look at my post in the COMPOST section. I found a ready mix compost sold by the yard. Take a look at the ingrediants and let me know what you think.

Jerry

jezcarol......I'll be watching to see how your peas do in the onion boxes.
I've read in more than one place that peas don't care to be near onions.
It will be interesting to see if that is really true and you get a great harvest or not.

Good luck. Even a few handsful while watering your garden is a treat. A lovely snack while puttering around. Just keep them picked every couple days so they keep producing. If you let even a few get fat to prepare for 'going to seed' the plant will stop producing new peas.

quiltbee,

I did not know that peas don't like onions! I may have to re-think my plan!

From what I have read root crops should not be planted with peas or beans as peas and beans are nitrogen fixers, and too much nitrogen in the soil means reall pretty green tops, but not much going on under the soil. You may get a head ache before it's all said and done, I know I have, but I can tell you Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cones fix that real quick. In fact I think it's time for one now. Seriosly, don't stress out, if you plant to things next to each other that don't play nice, just make note of it. I have marigolds popping up where my beans are going and I just found out they don't play nice, the marigolds are staying-too bad.

OK, I have a decent test of the friendlieness of onions. I have 4 squares of mammoth melting peas planted in a couple different beds, one _right_ behind the onion bed and 4 more that are planted with lettuce and brassicas.

Also, I am using the pea/bean innoculant bacteria this year, I LOVE peas in the pod, and they have been poor yields in the past. I also got them in the ground very early this time.

I just planted 2 boxes of sugar snap peas a week ago yesterday for the 1st time.

I absolutely love peas...of course hubby doesn't but that's ok...more for me!

I am going to plant 2 more boxes this coming Saturday.

I am very excited....I wish us all luck...



Dunkinjean

Luck! I planted 50 pea seeds that are two years old and 48 came up. I'm planting more tonight. (For our restaurant, in case you don't remember since I've been gone so long!)

I think the garden bed has finally thawed out enough for planting. Maybe peas will go in tomorrow after the morning snow melts.