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University
of Rhode Island GreenShare Factsheets
Peas
& Beans
Fresh peas and snap or green beans from the
home vegetable garden can add variety and nutrition to family
meals. These vegetables can be prepared directly from the
garden or can be frozen, canned or dried for later use.
Fresh peas planted in early
spring are usually ready for harvest by June 10 in the Northeast,
depending on average temperatures, and may be harvested for
up to two weeks. Snap beans planted in May or June are harvested
from sometime in late June through mid-October. Successive
plantings of small quantities of snap beans ensure a more
continuous harvest.
Peas are grown for either their edible seeds
or pods. Garden or English peas, grown for their seeds, are
harvested as soon as the pods are well-filled but the seeds
are still tender and sweet. When small and tender, these
peas can be eaten raw in salads. For cooking, shell just
before using and cook immediately.
Snow peas or sugar peas have edible flat pods
and very small seeds. They should be picked when very young,
just as the seeds start to form. If not picked at this stage,
they can be shelled and eaten as garden peas, but are more
starchy and not as sweet.
Sugar snap peas are also an edible pod pea but
have larger and sweeter seeds and a thicker pod. They are
grown to full size and then eaten like snap beans. Sugar
snap peas grow on tall vines that require the support of
a trellis.
Beans may be harvested at various times, depending
on how they are to be used. When the seeds are immature and
the pods edible, they are used as snap beans. High-quality
snap beans should be harvested when tender and well-shaped,
before the developing seeds cause the pods to bulge. As the
seeds mature, they may be used as green shell beans or as
dry shell beans if seeds mature fully and pods are allowed
to dry.
Bean plants may have either a bush habit of
growth or a pole/vining habit. As with climbing pea varieties,
pole beans should be staked or trellised for ease of picking.
Bush beans and peas are recommended if garden space is limited.
Peas are a cool-season crop and may be planted
in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Sow seeds
about one inch deep and two inches apart in the row. Low-growing
varieties can be grown in rows 18 to 24 inches apart. Climbers
need three feet between rows, or plant a double row six inches
apart on either side of a trellis.
Beans are a warm-season crop and should be planted
after danger of frost has passed. Sow seeds one inch deep
in heavy soils and 1-1/2 inches deep in sandy soils. Bush
beans should be spaced three to four inches apart in the
row. Space pole beans six to ten inches apart along a trellis
or plant several beans to a pole.
Both peas and beans can be grown in a variety
of soils, but good drainage is essential. Peas require a
pH of 6.0 to 6.7. Beans prefer a slightly more acid condition
of pH 5.8 to 6.3.
Specific application rates are best determined
using the results of a soil test. Fertilizer may either be
broadcast and worked into the soil before planting time or
banded two inches to the side and three inches below the
seed at the time of planting. A later side dressing, after
pods begin to form, may be necessary if plants appear yellowish
or are not growing well.
Weed control is essential, especially in the
first six weeks after planting. Shallow cultivation and hand-pulling
are the preferred methods. The soil should be kept evenly
moist. Overhead watering should be done early in the day
to reduce the incidence of leaf diseases which can occur
when the leaves remain wet overnight. An organic mulch about
two inches deep will conserve soil moisture and reduce weed
problems.
Diseases that may attack beans include anthracnose,
bacterial blight, mosaic, root rot and rust. Pea diseases
include powdery mildew,
root rot and wilt. If possible, rotate the location of peas
and beans in the garden to reduce the incidence of soil-borne
diseases that can build up over time.
Insect pests of peas and beans include aphids,
Mexican bean beetles, leafhoppers, seed corn maggots and mites.
Once peas and beans begin to reach the appropriate
stage for picking, harvesting will continue on a daily basis
for several days or even weeks with succession planting.
Peas and beans are best used as soon as possible after harvest,
but may be stored in the refrigerator for a few days if cooled
immediately. For best quality, freezing and canning should
be done within a few hours after picking.
Adapted from
Marianne Riofrio, Ohio State University Extension, 2000
Pesticides
are poisonous! Read and follow all safety precautions on labels.
Handle carefully and store in original containers out of reach
of children, pets or livestock. Dispose of empty containers
immediately, in a safe manner and place. Pesticides should never
be stored with foods or in areas where people eat.
When trade names are used for identification, no product endorsement
is implied, nor is discrimination intended against similar materials.
Be sure that the pesticide you intend to use is registered for
the state of use.
The user of this information assumes all risk for personal injury
or property damage.
For more
information, call the URI CE Gardening and Food Safety Hotline
at 1-800-448-1011 or (401)874-2929 from outside Rhode Island;
Monday-Thursday between 9 am and 2 pm.
University
of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension provides equal program
opportunities.
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