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Vegetable · Easy to grow

Pea

Pisum sativum

A sweet cool-season legume sown in autumn and winter in Adelaide for spring pods. Most need a trellis or netting to climb. Pick pods often, as plants stop flowering once pods mature, and dig the spent plants into the soil to feed the next crop.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (4)

  • Dwarf types (e.g. Massey Gem)Short plants needing little support; good for pots and windy spots
  • GreenfeastClassic Australian shelling pea; reliable and freezes well
  • Snow peaFlat edible pods picked young; quick and productive
  • Sugar snapEdible crunchy pods with sweet peas inside; needs a tall trellis

Neighbours

Grows well with

Keep away from

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    8 cm apart, seed 25 mm deep. Full sun.

  2. Water

    Moderate; don't waterlog seed.

  3. Feed

    None needed.

  4. Pick, from about 10 weeks

    Pick pods as they fill.

Good to know

  • Set up the trellis before sowing
  • Pick every couple of days to keep plants flowering
  • Soak seed for a few hours before sowing in dry soil

Common problems

  • Powdery mildew in springspace for airflow, water at the base; remove badly affected plants late in the season
  • Seeds rot in cold wet soildon't water until seedlings appear unless very dry
  • Birds pulling seedlingscover with netting until established
  • Snails and slugshand pick, trap at night

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about peaAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing peaQuestions, tips and harvests from the community

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Where this information comes from

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 27 Oct 2026. Version 2.