Key Technical Points and Management Methods for Growing Garden Peas
AbstractGarden peas are suitable for planting in cool, moist plots. Soil that has previously grown garden peas must wait 4-5 years before being planted again. Sowing can be done in mid-to-late October. The suitable growing temperature is 15-20°C. Base fertilizer can be applied as a ternary compound fertilizer in holes. During the vigorous growth period, decomposed organic fertilizer can be applied as a top dressing. When the plants grow to about 30-40cm, insert bamboo poles for them to climb and grow. During this period, do a good job of pest and disease prevention and control. Later, harvest according to the intended method of consumption.
1. Select Superior Seeds
Varieties such as Zhongwan No. 4, Zhongwan No. 6, White Flower Pea, Wuxu Doujian No. 1, Shijia Dacaiwan No. 1, and American Pea Shoots can be selected for planting.
2. Choose a Plot
Garden peas prefer cool conditions, but are not tolerant of high temperatures, frost, drought, or waterlogging. They require moist soil but not standing water. Garden peas are not suitable for continuous cropping. A plot that has been sown with garden peas must wait 4-5 years before being sown again. During the flowering and fruiting period, the temperature needs to be maintained at 15-20°C, which helps promote flowering and pod development.
3. Planting Specifications
After plowing the soil, the bed width should be determined according to variety characteristics and soil drainage conditions. For tall vegetable-type varieties, it is 1.5 meters, with 2 rows sown including the furrow. For tall grain-type varieties, it is 2 meters, with 4 rows sown including the furrow. For short-stalked varieties, it is 2.5-3.5 meters, with 6 rows sown including the furrow.
4. Sow at the Right Time
(1) Sowing can be done in mid-to-late October, with a row spacing of 40cm, a plant spacing of 20cm, 10000 holes per mu, 2-3 seeds per hole, and a sowing rate of 10-15 jin per mu. Tall-stalked varieties and seedling-type varieties should be appropriately densely planted.
(2) For tall-stalked sweet garden peas and tall-stalked soft-podded peas, use a row spacing of 70-80cm and a plant spacing of 30cm, which facilitates later management and harvesting. For early-maturing short-stalked varieties such as Zhongwan No. 4 and Zhongwan No. 6, sowing can be done in late November, with a sowing rate of 20 jin per mu, a row spacing of 30-35cm, a plant spacing of 10-15cm, and 2-3 seeds per hole.
5. Apply Sufficient Fertilizer
Before sowing, apply 5000 jin of decomposed barnyard manure, 20-30 jin of potassium chloride, and 50-60 jin of superphosphate per mu. This can be applied in furrows or holes, or 60-80 jin of ternary compound fertilizer can be applied in holes. During the vigorous growth period of branches and leaves, apply decomposed organic fertilizer once every 10 days or so.
6. Later Management
When the plants grow to 30-40cm, insert several bamboo poles into the potting soil to guide the garden peas to climb and grow. During this period, distribute the stems and leaves evenly. During the growth process, garden peas often suffer from rust disease, anthracnose, bud blight, powdery mildew, brown spot disease, root rot, fusarium wilt, and other diseases. When disease occurs, immediately remove diseased leaves and pull out affected plants, and burn them together by fire.
7. Harvest at the Right Time
The harvest time can be chosen according to the intended method of consumption. Generally, for grain-type peas, harvest can be carried out 15-18 days after flowering, when the seeds gradually become plump. Dry garden peas are harvested when 70%-80% of the pods turn yellow and withered. Garden peas are harvested 12-14 days after flowering, when the tender pods show seeds but not distinct grains. Pea shoots can be harvested about 30 days after sowing, when the seedlings grow to 18cm, by picking the tender tips for consumption. Those used as feed can be harvested at full bloom, and those used as green manure can be plowed under promptly after harvesting the pods.