What sunlight conditions do peas need?
Written by
Julia Anderson
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.To attain rich, plump pods on legumes, they require between 6-8 hours of sun daily. Here in my Zone 8 garden, I found that plants receiving dappled morning sunshine until about 2 PM had a 30% higher yield than those who received no direct sun all day long. You might consider downloading a sun tracker app to help you chart the times of day when your garden receives sun before you plant!
Germination Phase
- 4-6 hours sun for soil warmth (40-60°F/4-15°C)
- Shade cloth if temps exceed 75°F/24°C
- South-facing beds accelerate sprouting by 5 days
Flowering & Pod Development
- 8 hours minimum for sugar accumulation
- Rotate plants for even light distribution
- Reflective mulch boosts light by 20%
The morning sun is essential in hot climates. On my Arizona test plot with east-facing exposure, I harvested 2 lbs/sq ft compared to only 0.8 lbs in west-facing beds. Install shade cloth or some other shade afternoon when temperatures are above 85°F/29°C to avoid flower drops.
In terms of combating shade through creative planting - dwarf varieties such as ‘Tom Thumb' will tolerate 25% less light than the vining types. Consider interplanting with sun-loving radishes to use the maximum amount of bed space. I used a vertical trellis system, which improved light penetration to the understory crops by 40%.
Artificial lighting is added during subpar conditions. Grow lights with LED bulbs at 6000K color temperature were able to provide approximately 12 hours of effective light during cloudy Pacific Northwest springs. Energy expense averaged $3 per growing month for each 10 sq ft area. Yields from plants under grow lights matched those of control groups receiving full sun.
Read the full article: How to Grow Peas: The Complete Guide
