It is best to plant seeds directly in the ground that way their roots aren't disturbed. Plant the seeds 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost date when the soil is cool. Usually around February,March, or April depending where you live!
Plant the seeds 1 inch deep and 3-4 inches apart.
Peas thrive in full sun (at least 6-8 hours per day).
Peas come in two heights bush peas and climbing peas. No matter what kind of pea it is, it'll benefit from some sort of support for it to grow up. bush peas are only 2 to 3 feet tall, but when peas start producing they will flop on the ground if some type of support isn't provided for them. Climbing peas may reach 6 to 8 feet tall. They need a sturdy trellis at least 6 feet.
PLANT THESE NEXT TO PEAS:
BEETS: they help loosen the soil around the base of the plant. Which can help with water absorption and airflow.
CARROTS: aerate the soil which helps with airflow
RADISH: radishes are perfect pest deterrents.
Turnips: also loosen the soil and are excellent soil aerators
Basil: helps repel insects and enhances the flavor of sweet peas
Cucumbers: Cucumbers benefit from the nitrogen that peas add to the soil.
MINT, SAGE, THYME, OREGANO, PARSLEY all of these help keep pests away from the pea plants and also give the peas a better flavor.
Peas put off nitrogen which benefits mostly every other plant.
DO NOT PLANT THESE NEXT TO PEAS:
Plants in the allium family can release a chemical into the soil that negatively affects how the peas grow. Plants such as: GARLIC, LEEKS,CHIVES ONIONS.
Nightshades are also bad companions for peas because they compete for nutrients and water. They also attract other pests that can harm peas.
The more you pick the peas the more they grow. Picking peas is easy, but the plant can get damaged easily as well. So to avoid any damage to the plant; Simply hold the vine steady with one hand and use the other hand to snap off the pods.
Peas thrive in cooler temperatures and may slow down or even stop producing pods when temperatures rise above 85°F.
High temperatures can cause the pods to dry out before they mature to sweetness, resulting in tough, leathery pods.
Water, water, water especially when pods are producing!