Peas are a cool-weather crop, but if you choose the right varieties, they can tolerate some heat and keep producing through summer. And since they grow vertically, you can even grow peas in hanging baskets.
You’ll need to start with plants rather than seeds. There are many garden centers that carry a wide variety of pea plants, including dwarf and bush varieties that work well in hanging baskets.
Growing Peas In Hanging Baskets
Choose a basket at least 12 inches deep and 20 inches across to give the plants plenty of room for roots. Line the basket with sphagnum moss and fill it with potting soil. Plant up to five plants in the basket, spacing them evenly around the inside edge. Water well and set it out in the full sun.
Peas require lots of nitrogen, so fertilize every week or two with a high-nitrogen fertilizer like fish emulsion or seaweed extract (follow package instructions for dilution rates). And water whenever the soil starts to dry out about an inch below the surface.
If it gets hot where you live, you may want to move your peas into part shade during the hottest part of the day; this will help prevent flower drops and keep your peas producing longer.
Types of Peas Grow Well in Hanging Baskets
This is a list of types of peas that work well in hanging baskets or containers.
- Lincoln Pea: Lincoln is one of the best types of peas for hanging baskets. It has a vigorous vine, grows well in most soil, and is great for the beginner in gardening. The pods are edible when young and tender, but they quickly become tough and stringy. If you wish to grow your own Lincoln peas, you should know that they require a lot of shade, as well as daily watering.
- Little Marvel Pea: A small pea that grows to about 1′ tall, it produces a heavy crop of tasty peas. It is edible as a snap pea or shell pea. A good choice for small spaces, or where you want to save room for other plants in your basket or container. When grown in a hanging basket, it needs some support from a twiggy branch stuck into the potting mix so the vine has something to grab onto as it grows up.
- Cascadia Pea: Cascadia Pea (Pisum sativum) is a variety of pea that is grown for its edible seeds and pods. Cascadia Pea plants are self-pollinating, so you can easily grow this variety in hanging baskets. They need at least 6 hours of sun per day and can tolerate partial shade in the afternoon. Cascadia Peas grow well in containers with a trellis or other vertical structure for climbing. They do not require a lot of water.
Peas Seeds
Peas seeds germinate or sprout in just two to five days. The seeds are able to germinate even if you planted them right away. This makes the pea plant a good crop for children to grow.
You can see the results of their work almost immediately, which is encouraging for a child who can be impatient for things to grow. Peas are a cool-weather crop, which means they can be planted in the spring or fall and survive a light frost.
This also makes them a good plant for kids because it provides them with a greater chance of success than warm-weather crops like tomatoes and peppers.
You will have the most success planting peas if you use pea trellises. The trellis allows peas to grow vertically and will keep them off the ground where they can rot more easily. Peas are grown from seed and should be planted 2 inches apart.
It takes approximately 10 weeks for peas to go from seed to harvestable fruit, so try planting your pea seeds every few weeks so that you will have a continuous supply throughout the summer.
Harvesting Peas From Hanging Baskets
One way is the way I learned at my grandmother’s knee, which is to go out into the garden with a bucket and some scissors and simply snip off the pea pods that are full and green. You can walk right up to them and see exactly which ones they are.
This way gives you peas in your bucket, but you also get a lot of stems in your bucket. There are leaves and tendrils, too, sometimes even small stems that have wandered away from the main vine. You can’t just dump these into your pot; you have to take time to pick through them and throw away the unusable parts.
The other way is to do it the way my mother does it, which is to grab a handful of the vine with one hand, then grab some more vine with your other hand and pull hard on both hands at once. This detaches all the mature pods from the vine at once, depositing them in a heap on the ground next to you.
Peas Benefits
Do you know that peas are one of the most beneficial vegetables? Peas are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and plant protein.
Peas contain more protein than any other vegetable. They also contain important vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Also, The high amount of folate in peas helps to prevent diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Recent studies suggest that eating peas can lower cholesterol levels by increasing the excretion of bile acids in the stomach. In this way, peas reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.
Peas are rich in antioxidants (flavonoids) which help fight against cancer cells and prevent cancer development. Peas also have high fiber content which prevents constipation.”
Moreover, Peas contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, which helps keep your digestive system functioning at its best. Soluble fiber forms a gel in your stomach that slows digestion and can help you feel full longer (important for weight loss). Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool and helps prevent constipation.
Thanks For Reading.