One of the most ancient crops cultivated by man is sowing peas. An annual herb from the legume family. The cultivation does not require large physical costs.
Types and description of seed peas
The most common of the species is the common pea. It is a climbing plant. It has feathery leaves and shoots ending in tendrils. The pea pods are green, the seeds are round, slightly compressed, the surface is smooth. It blooms in white, sometimes pink. This plant is cultivated as food and fodder.
There are several popular groups of sowing pea varieties:
- Sugar
- Brain
- Peeling
Sugar varieties can be divided into soup and dessert varieties. Soup varieties have smaller fruits than other varieties. Various soups are prepared from them.
Dessert varieties are eaten fresh. Also, side dishes are prepared from dessert varieties for various second courses. This plant is high in protein.
Peas cerebral used for food in a state of waxy ripeness at home. This species is mainly used for conservation. Peeling varieties are harvested on an industrial scale for the food industry.
Why peas are valuable
The advantages of seed peas include its saturation with vitamins.
And also such elements necessary for a person as fatty acids, starch, vegetable oils, fiber... Rich in vegetables and minerals. By planting this plant on your site, you will replenish your diet with a tasty and healthy product.
Site selection and preparation
Sowing is done in early spring into the prepared soil in the fall.
When choosing a site for sowing, the following conditions must be observed:
- The site must be well lit.
- Lack of close occurrence of groundwater.
- Light, fertile soil.
This culture grows beautifully in sunny places and very badly tolerates shade. The beds should be located in open, well-ventilated areas.
Does not like peas of low-lying, swampy places. Its roots penetrate deep enough into the soil and crops from an excess of moisture can hurt.
Sowing peas love fertile soil and grow very poorly on poor soils.
A sufficient amount of organic matter should be introduced for pre-sowing treatment. During the autumn digging, up to 6 kg organic fertilizers per square meter, according to the description or instructions.
You do not need to use fresh manure, as it can cause rapid growth of green mass and inhibit flowering and fruit formation. It is very good when spring loosening the soil to add ash... It will successfully replace mineral fertilizers.
When planting this plant on acidic soils, it is necessary to produce liming... 350 - 400 grams of lime is introduced per square meter.
This culture not afraid of the cold and planting can begin as soon as the ground warms up a little. Small frosts are not terrible for shoots.
The predecessors can serve any crops other than legumes... It will grow well after cabbage and potatoes. Peas themselves are an excellent precursor for all plants, as they saturate the soil with nitrogen. Its roots should not be discarded when harvesting. By covering them in the soil during autumn digging, you will significantly increase its fertility.
The vegetable is friends with corn. A small amount of corn in the garden will provide a good support for this plant. To harvest several crops during the summer, you can use different ripening times for different varieties. You need to plant at intervals of 7 to 10 days to get green peas as long as possible.
Seed preparation and planting
To quickly and efficiently select seeds for sowing, you need put them in lightly salted water... Floated seeds are not suitable for sowing. Peas that have sunk to the bottom should be washed in clean water. Germination will be fast if peas are soaked in water at room temperature for 10-12 hours. The water should be changed after 3 - 4 hours.
Planting is done after loosening the soil after 6 to 8 hours so that the earth does not dry out. Seeds are planted deep 4 - 6 cm, distance between rows 35 - 40 cm... In a row distance 10 - 15 cm.
This planting pattern is not suitable for all varieties. Varieties such as the Oregon Giant and Super Sweet, growing up to two meters in height, need to be planted in a 70x70 cm pattern.
Sprinkle the seeds with earth. For better moisture retention, the soil must be compacted. Cover the bed with plastic wrap to prevent the seeds from pecking at the birds. Seedlings will appear in 7 - 10 days and the film can be removed.
The care is very simple. Water and loosen the beds in time - and you will have a wonderful harvest. Spotted - plant very badly tolerates heat and drought... In such weather, you need to water it very abundantly.
Good combine watering with fertilizing... One tablespoon of nitroammophoska is diluted per 10 liters of water. After watering, the aisles are loosened and the plants themselves are spud.
For a high yield, set for peas trellis... This will prevent the shoots from straying into the swath. And weeding and loosening will be much more convenient. It is very convenient to process crops with Fokin's flat cutter. Cut weeds dry up and mulch the soil.
Disease and pest control
In cool, damp and cloudy weather, peas are likely to be damaged fungal infections.
Traditionally, in such cases, drugs such as a solution of copper sulfate and fungicides are used. When processing crops, you must strictly follow the instructions and recommendations for the use of these drugs.
Pea moth is the worst enemy. Its caterpillars hibernate in the soil. Usually, the pea moth butterflies fly out when the pea begins to bloom. A week after they lay their eggs, small caterpillars appear. They get inside the fruit and eat it.
After about three weeks, the caterpillars get out of the fruit and pupate in the upper layers of the soil, where they fall asleep until the next season.
Chemical treatment is carried out during flowering... It can be repeated after a week if necessary.
It is important to start harvesting on time so that the peas do not overripe.
After harvesting, it is necessary to carry out deep plowing and observing the crop rotation do not return peas to this place earlier than 5-6 years.
By cultivating this crop, you will receive a product rich in vitamins and minerals. And also improve the structure of the soil and enrich it with nitrogen.