How deep to plant peas in a container?
If you want tall, bushier pea varieties, pick pots that are 8-12 inches deep with the same width. For dwarf pea varieties, get a container that is six inches deep. Aside from depth, you need to make sure the container has proper drainage, which is ideal for airflow. It’s best to use clay or wood containers rather than plastic ones.
How to grow peas in a pot?
Keep in mind that pot-grown peas require more water than garden grown, possibly up to three times a day. Due to this frequent irrigation, the nutrients are leached out from the soil, so fertilization is key to growing healthy peas in a container. First of all, choose the pea variety you wish to plant.
How do you take care of peas in pots?
Caring for Peas in Pots 1 Keep an eye on whether the plant is too dry and water until the soil is moist but not drenched to prevent root rot. 2 Once the peas have sprouted, fertilize twice during the growing season, using a low nitrogen fertilizer. 3 Be sure to protect your container grown peas from frost by moving them indoors. More ...
How deep should a pot be for houseplants?
For tall and large bushier varieties, choose pots that are 8-12 inches deep and as wide as possible. Maintain the spacing of 3 to 5 inches between each plant. For dwarf and short varieties, get pots that are 6 inches deep. Maintain the spacing of 2 to 3 inches between each plant. Ensure better drainage and promote airflow.
Learn Growing Peas in Containers & Pots to plant them in your apartment balcony or patio, because sweet and plump, freshly picked homegrown peas taste so heavenly
If nothing can taste as homegrown tomatoes picked now from the plant, nothing can taste as sweet homegrown peas picked now as well. Those who grow them, swear! You can plant them too, without a garden. Follow this article and learn every bit of detail on how to grow peas in pots.
Choosing a Container
As the roots of peas are shallow you’re good to go with moderately deep but wide planters–a trough, windowbox or a bucket would be fine.
Types of Peas
Garden peas or English peas (the most common one), which are grown for their peas/seeds in the pods. Pods are inedible and fibrous, and you need to shell peas to eat them. Also known as shelling peas, the peas inside are usually plump and medium to large size with moderately sweet to sweet taste (depending more on the variety).
Growing Peas from Seeds
Growing peas from seeds is really easy, and it requires a few steps given below:
When to Plant Peas?
Peas enjoy cool weather conditions more than long, hot summers. Plant them in early spring and spring for the succession planting as soon as the soil temperature is above 40 F (5 C).
Growing Peas Indoors
Growing peas indoors is possible, if you have a south or west-facing window that receives at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight. A six inches deep windowbox is fine to grow dwarf varieties of peas. You can also plant tall varieties if you’ve space.
Requirements for Growing Peas in Pots
Peas can grow part sun to full sun but prefers a sunny location with a steady wind and good air circulation. However, if you’re growing peas in warm weather, i.e., summer or in a hot climate, keep them away from the intense afternoon sunlight.
Depth and Pea Spacing at Planting
Peas are among the earliest plants you can direct-seed, so there's little benefit in starting them indoors and transplanting.
When to Plant Your Peas
The "when" of planting peas varies with your growing zone and local microclimate, but as a rule, they'll be one of the first things you sow in your garden. The usual term is "as soon as the ground can be worked," which might be as early as January in some parts of the country or as late as the end of March.
Care of Peas After Planting
Peas are easy to grow and are light feeders, so they require little hands-on care. In any moderately rich soil, they'll produce well with little-to-no fertilizing. Peas produce their own nitrogen, so if you do choose to provide feeding, use a low-nitrogen mixture such as a 5-20-20 blend.
How Deep and How Far Apart to Plant Black-Eyed Peas
Black-eyed peas are not only a Southern treat, but are eaten all across the world. A variety of cowpea, black-eyed peas are in the same family as beans but are technically a different species from your regular common beans.
How Deep to Plant Black-Eyed Peas
When there is no more risk of frost and soil temperatures have warmed to 70°F (21°C), sow black-eyed pea seeds about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep, up to 2 inches (5 cm).
How Far Apart to Plant Black-Eyed Peas
Black-eyed peas have similar spacing requirements as beans. Space black-eyed peas at least 5 inches (15 cm) apart.
Related Questions About Planting Black-Eyed Peas
Black-eyed peas are suitable to grow in containers, and they have similar requirements as beans. However, you should be aware that black-eyed peas can come in pole (climbing) and bush varieties.
Prepare Your Container
Cut a piece of plastic screening that's large enough to cover the drainage hole in the bottom of the container you've chosen. If you don't have screening, you can also use a coffee filter or a piece of porous landscape fabric to cover the drainage hole.
Fill Your Container With Potting Mix
Pour potting mix into your container, making sure to stop filling at least 3 inches from the container rim. If your potting soil doesn’t have fertilizer already including in its mixture, add in a general, all-purpose formula.
Plant Your Pea Seeds
Though it's not mandatory, treating your pea seeds with a legume inoculant will produce a bigger pea yield and healthier plants. For faster germination, you can soak your seeds in water overnight. Then, while they're still wet, shake them in a bag with the inoculant.
Set Up a Trellis
Most pea varietals are climbing plants, so they will need some type of trellis or support structures for the vines to climb. Bamboo stakes tied together at the top with twine into a triangle shape work well. Or you can place your container near a deck or railing that can serve as a "trellis" for the plants.
Care for the Peas
As your pea seeds germinate, sprout, and begin to grow, keep the soil moist but not wet. And make sure that your containers receive at least six hours of full sunlight each day. Peas are fairly easy plants, so this is just about the only care required.
How to Start Growing Peas in Containers
Peas are a simple vegetable to grow. From planting to harvest, it can take as little as 60 days. That means in two months, you could be munching on fresh peas. Don’t waste any time; let’s get started!
Can I Grow Peas Indoors?
Not all crops grow indoors well, but peas are one of the veggies that you could grow indoors in containers if you have a south or west-facing window that gets six or more hours of direct sunlight each day.
How to Care for Peas Growing in Pots
Peas are great for new gardeners because they’re so easy to grow and require little care. Here are some helpful tips for caring for peas that are growing in your garden.
Common Pests & Diseases
Typically, climbing varieties are more resistant to diseases because they grow away from the soil, which is where most bacteria, pathogens, and pests live.
Harvesting Fresh Peas
Pea plants continue to produce a harvest while they’re growing. You can harvest the pods when they’re round, bright green, and the peas feel full, depending on the variety.
Varieties of Peas to Grow in Containers
As mentioned before, there are three types of peas, so let’s take a look at varieties in each category to help you decide which peas you want to grow!
Final Thoughts
Growing peas in containers is an excellent starter plant for new gardeners or even kids who are interested in gardening.
Choosing the Right Sugar Snap Peas Container
Choosing the right gardening container will help you succeed in growing sugar snaps. Pea plants have a shallow root system; this means they do not grow too deeply into the soil. When choosing a pot to grow your peas, depth is not a necessity but width is. You can therefore grow your sugar snaps in troughs or window boxes.
Transplanting the Sugar Snap Peas
Your sugar snap peas are ready to be transplanted when they are about 5 inches long. If you are growing snap peas outside, it is advisable to wait until the last frost date has passed before you plant.
Caring for Sugar Snap Peas
Keep the snap peas plants in full sun positions. However, this is with caution! If the sun is too hot, put them under some shade. Too much sun will slow your plants’ growth. Pea plants do well in temperatures ranging between 60 and 75 degrees.
Growing Peas in Containers- Take-home
You can grow sugar snap peas in containers as an excellent supplement to your vegetables. Pick your snap peas early before the pods are fully swollen. As long as you remember to water regularly, provide support, and harvest on time, they are a low maintenance food that any gardener can grow!
Why does root depth and soil depth matter?
Most plants will grow within the space you allow them. They’ll survive with a minimum of soil depth, but they’ll thrive if you give them as much room as possible for their roots to branch out and breathe.
Knowing the root depth of vegetables can help you plan your garden better
If you’re getting a garden bed ready for planting, knowing the root depth of the plants you want to grow can help you determine how extensively to prepare the soil.
Root depth can help determine the best height for raised garden beds
If you install raised garden beds over concrete or gravel, you’ll want to know the root depth of the vegetables going in, since they will guide how high you need to build the sides of your beds.
Gardeners in dry climates can use root depth to help with hydrozoning
Root depth is also helpful for hydrozoning, especially if you live in a drought-prone area.
Soil depth requirements for common garden vegetables, fruits, and herbs
Some vegetables, like spinach and spring radishes, have very shallow roots and don’t need more than 4 to 6 inches of soil to grow successfully. But the smaller the planter, the more often you’ll need to water.
More ways to prepare for planting this season
This post updated from an article that originally appeared on February 27, 2019.
