How do you maximize pea yields?

Maximising Peas.: Successive sowings and frequent picking induce more pods. I have doubled my Crops and maintained my Gardens Organic, in this way.

Practice succession planting by seeding a new batch every 2-3 weeks. Start 4 weeks before your last frost and sow until 8 weeks before your first fall freeze. I keep a planting calendar and mark entries with the corresponding color. This ensures that overlapping harvests and production gaps are avoided.

Inoculate seeds with rhizobia inoculant. This is a powder made from bacteria that helps promote total nitrogen fixation. Lightly coat the seeds that you've moistened. I can see a noticeable difference with the closely planted ones. Those that are inoculated tend to grow more root nodules. Within three weeks, the growth gives a darker green display of foliage.

Practice "selective" pinching when your plants are 8" tall. With your fingernails, nip out the top growth just beyond the fourth set of leaves. This pinches off the plant's urge to grow tall, producing more branching at the base. I time this for the morning hours, when the plants are plump and turgid. Within 10 days, expect to see two or three new shoots growing out from behind each nipped stem.

Mulch soil moisture with 2-3 inches of organic mulch. Straw or shredded leaves help prevent moisture loss to evaporation. Water deeply 1-2 times a week, and I recommend inserting moisture meters at the root level. Consistent watering helps prevent blossom drop and pod abortion during flower time.

Harvest methodically each morning when pods are cooled by the dew. When about 70 percent of the pods are mature, begin harvesting with the pods suitable for eating while immature, such as the snow peas, then the snap variety, and finally the shelling types. We carry a container filled with ice packs to cool the pods immediately. I pick in stages, for when the plants are picked daily, they are encouraged to produce more flowers.

Boost nutrient delivery with compost tea. I use it monthly. Brew for 24 hours, then pour onto the ground, avoiding foliage. Within a week, I will notice plumper pods. Well-balanced plants will favour pod growing over leafy growth.

Closely observe environmental factors. Protect yourself from the sun during the hot afternoon hours when the temperature is above 80°F. Use a shade cloth with a density of 30% to shield from the sun. During extreme heat events, I also construct temporary structures to provide shade, reduce flower abortion, and enhance the quality of developing pods.

Read the full article: How to Grow Peas: A Complete Guide