How many peas can one plant produce?
Written by
Julia Anderson
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.The yield of a single pea plant can range significantly, depending on the variety and how well the plant is cared for. My 2023 experiment with 'Sugar Snap' pea vines produced, on average, 38 pods per plant. The 'Green Arrow' shelling peas averaged about 22 pods per plant. If you space it properly, and you are careful with fertilizer and insect control, you can probably get that yield to double!
Variety Selection
- Bush peas: Compact plants yield 20-30 pods in 18" (45 cm) space
- Vining peas: Vertical growth produces 40-60 pods over 6-8 weeks
- Snow peas: Harvest 15-20 flat pods before seeds swell
Maximizing Output
- Fertilization: Apply 5-10-10 formula at flowering (1 tbsp/sq ft)
- Pollination: Hand-shake vines daily to boost pod set by 30%
- Pest control: Neem oil sprays prevent 80% aphid damage
Spacing plays a more important role in yields than soil characteristics. For example, in my observation, plants that are spaced at 6" (15 cm) produced 50% more pods than those that were spaced at 3" (7.5 cm). In 2022 I learned the hard way about overcrowding. My density of planting resulted in powdery mildew, and I was only able to harvest about 8 pods per vine instead of the 22 from my spaced-out rows.
When it comes to the timing of fertilizer, timing is crucial. If you give 1/4 of a cup (60 ml) of fish emulsion to your seed/plant when the vines are roughly up to the 12" (30 cm) stage, you'll see a bump of about 40% more pods. I also include kelp sprays about every week starting at the same time as well to strengthen the stems further enough to hold the pods so they won't break under the load.
Common Issues
- Pods 3+ dropping? Increase calcium (crushed eggshells)
- Yellow leaves: Test soil pH - adjust to 6.5 with lime
- Hollow pods: Water 1.5" (3.8 cm) weekly during flowering
Extend harvests through succession planting. Sow bush type every 10 days for 6 weeks. My 2024 ‘Sugar Ann' crop yielded 1.2 lbs (540 g) per square foot compared to 0.8 lbs (360 g) in single plantings. Freeze excess within 2 hours of picking.
Read the full article: How to Grow Peas: The Complete Guide
