Zone 5b. I envision them climbing up this wall of my house… they just seem weak right now, but it’s just starting to warm up. I’ve been protecting them at night with a frost blanket…
by Leauxx
Zone 5b. I envision them climbing up this wall of my house… they just seem weak right now, but it’s just starting to warm up. I’ve been protecting them at night with a frost blanket…
by Leauxx
10 Comments
Peas are cold hardy. They can’t latch on to that slick metal siding. You need some sort of trellis or stakes. Preferably a trellis, doesn’t have to be anything fancy.
I think it’s totally normal for them to look a little sad right now, especially in 5b where spring is still doing its “surprise, it’s winter again” thing. Give them a real trellis/netting to grab, mulch the bed, keep the moisture consistent, and don’t overfeed them. Once they latch onto something and the weather settles, they’ll probably take off. Just know that peas are a cool-season crop, so they may fade once your days start getting consistently warm. That wall would be amazing for a heat-lover later, like pole beans or cucumbers but peas might struggle once it heats up.
Look a little off with the discoloration. Are they overwatered? What’s in your soil mix? Looks mulch heavy and thin. Is the soil underneath it compacted?
Love snap peas. I pretty much give them nothing but some fish fert every month and some balanced granule mixed into the soil at sowing. Other than that they done need a whole lot of attention. Once they start getting big go out with some jute and tie them to your trellis where needed. They are morons and will go rogue if ya don’t. They also don’t grab super strong like beans or cucurbits so really strong wind can rip them off your trellis if they aren’t tied. Then they’ll be all bent over but they won’t die and you’ll have an impossible to harvest snap pea bramble
Good call about the metal wall being so hot. I put these up so hopefully that will help. I envisioned planting something that would grow fast quickly up this wall to add a colorful accent..
https://preview.redd.it/04dqyyvqgszg1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=487c2c18ecf85a787e5e5239e524c9a99dbf2505
They are going to get absolutely *fried* during the summer months by the metal wall & the radiant heat.
As others have mentioned, they don’t mind a little chill. I want to add to that though—while the plants themselves are frost-tolerant, the blossoms and pods are not so much. It can be a fine needle to thread planting them early enough to thrive in the cool weather before it gets too hot for them, but not so early that you’re still getting frost when they’re actually producing. Where I live we tend to go from overnight frost almost immediately to daytime temps of 80s and even 90s, which invites pests and disease, but maybe your spring weather will be a little more conducive to their preferences! One more thing I would suggest is planting a little more densely. They can handle it!
Their tendrils are small. They won’t be able to grab that railing. You’ll need something small in diameter for the tendrils to grab for it to climb. Even something quick and dirty made of jute or some other cheap string will work.
2 seeds every 2 inches, and a 3 foot tall trellis.
Peas *like* the cold. Let them be cold. Warm & hot makes them sad, they bolt then wither off and die.
They also need something to grab onto & climb. You say you have wire. Where is it? It needs to be every 6 inches minimum, ideally every 3 inches or so. Peas like a lot of support. Strings coming down from a sturdy, solid top would suffice but netting is better.