Marrowfat Peas AMBASSADOR

Pisum sativum - Ambassador

Peas have been cultivated since the Neolithic period, and today they are grown almost worldwide. They contain many vitamins and active substances that help us improve the defense capability of our entire organism. They are also a source of proteins and vitamins C, B, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and others. They belong to annual crops. This legume vegetable belongs to the Fabaceae family. The flowers are white and the fruit is a pod. The seeds can be light to dark green.

Peas can be divided into three cultivated groups. Garden peas whose seeds are suitable for freezing and fresh processing in the kitchen. Sugar snap peas, where the entire pod including seeds is used for consumption. Marrowfat peas, which have a high starch content. They are suitable for heat processing, for example in soups. According to growing maturity, we distinguish very early varieties, early, medium early, medium late, and late varieties.

How to Grow Peas

• They require a bright location, but not direct scorching sun. Peas belong to cold-loving plants. They thrive best at temperatures of 13 – 18 °C. This doesn't mean they can withstand frost. Water abundantly especially during flowering and pod setting. The soil should never dry out completely. Drought doesn't suit peas. Peas are climbing plants, so they need support. If we grow peas in rows - we stretch string between them. Peas will make do with any support - fence, pergola, wooden slat. Regularly loosen the soil around the planting and remove weeds.

• Sowing is done early in spring, ideally at the end of March to early April. Garden peas are sown from April to June. We sow on prepared land in rows 15 - 30 cm apart, with seeds 4 - 6 cm apart. Seeds are sown to a depth of 5 - 7 cm.

• The soil should be permeable, well-worked with a sufficient dose of nutrients. It shouldn't dry out quickly, but at the same time it mustn't remain waterlogged for long.

• Before planting, fertilize the soil with mature compost or rotted manure.

  Apply phosphate and potash fertilizers as needed. Dose of 20 kg N, 50 kg P, K 120kg per hectare. If the soil was properly fertilized before sowing, there is no need to add fertilizer during vegetation.

• Pea weevil - its larvae drill holes in seeds. Only one larva lives in each seed. Larvae damage seeds, reduce yield, quality and germination of peas. Adult beetles eat pollen, petals or stamens of peas. Chemical protection is spraying during flowering, when the first two flowers on the stem finish blooming and the first pod begins to form. Prevention is appropriate preventive earlier sowing of peas.

  Pea leaf weevil - damages leaves. Leaf blades are regularly eaten away from the edges. Larvae of this beetle also damage plants, living in nodule-like tumors on roots and destroying them. Suitable protection is spraying with Karate or Sumithion preparations and arsenic preparations.

  Wireworms - larvae of click beetles. Plants wilt in rows or spots. Sown seeds don't emerge at all. Roots are damaged, visible tunnels can be seen. Larvae are cylindrical and hard, shiny, yellowish-brown and about three centimeters large. Chemical protection is not very suitable. If wireworms appear, regularly and deeply dig the soil and don't leave it undisturbed even after harvest. Fertilizing with nitrogenous lime also helps.

  Another enemy of peas are birds, especially jays and pigeons. In this case we apply scarers, traps or nets.

• Harvest takes place roughly from mid-June to mid-July depending on the maturity of sown varieties.

  Early varieties are harvested from the 12th week after planting.

  Sugar snap peas are harvested as soon as there are sweet large peas in the pods. It's advisable to simply try one pod to see if they are sufficiently ripe.