About
It has white, pink or mauve flowers which develop into pods containing 5-10 edible peas. This is the wild pea plant from which all cultivated peas have been bred. It is a green-leaved annual, which climbs using tendrils. There are many varieties, including mangetout and sugar-snap peas. They can wary in size with tall cultivars reaching up to 1.8m and dwarf only 45cm.
About the genus
A very small genus of annual, flowering plants from legume family. Native to SW Asia and NE Africa, species P. sativum is widely cultivated for food. Hollow. Climbing or trailing stems bear compound leaves and tendrils. Flowers are butterfly-shaped, 1-3 per stalk. The fruit is a pod
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden
Care notes
CultivationSow seed quite densely, in full sun in well-drained but moisture-retentive soil. Provide support such as twiggy hazel sticks or netting, for them to climb up. Pick pods regularly to ensure a continuous crop. For more advice, see pea cultivation
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to pea moth, aphids, pea and bean weevil, pea thrips, pigeons, slugs and snails. Mice may eat newly-sown seeds
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews, and downy mildews, foot and root rot, Fusarium wilt, grey moulds, pea leaf and pod spot, and virus diseases