Last Updated on April 9, 2022 by Ellen Christian
It’s almost spring here and time to seriously start thinking about gardening. So, if you’re wondering how to grow peas in containers, I’m sharing a few tips. Peas are one of the easiest spring vegetables to grow for beginners.Posts may be sponsored. This post contains affiliate links, which means I will make a commission at no extra cost to you should you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to Grow Peas in Containers
When it comes to easy to grow vegetables that make a great addition to your garden peas are always on top of the list. These plants can help your entire garden thrive while saving you money on feeding your family quality produce. The best part is they don’t take a lot of work, making them perfect for the new or forgetful gardener.
Peas are a great option for growing in your garden. These tasty little vegetables are actually a nitrogen-fixing plant. This makes them perfect for repairing the soil in garden beds that grew plants that draw heavily from the soil like potatoes. Finding fresh peas in sores can be limited making it a smart choice for people looking to grow more fresh food rather than hitting the freezer section for their peas.
And, if you’re a beginner, growing peas in pots is the simplest way to start.
What type of peas should I grow in a container?
When choosing what peas to grow, look for a variety that your family will enjoy eating. Most families are familiar with the flavor of sugar snap peas found commonly in grocery stores. Because this is what you are used to I suggest starting your journey growing peas by growing sugar snap peas. Alongside this, you can always experiment with other great varieties like snow peas. Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Peas are a delicious option.
Can you grow peas in a container?
Can you grow peas in a pot? Yes! Peas grow tall and need support. Because of this It is usually not recommended to grow peas in pots unless you have the proper support nearby. That said if you have a trellis available that you can trail your peas on, you can successfully grow peas in a large pot. For a successful pea crop from grown in pots look for pots no less than two gallons for each plant. Here are some tips to make your own trellis.
Do peas need to climb?
Most varieties of peas do need to climb. So, if you are wondering how to grow peas in containers, you will want to add a trellis behind your container for the peas to climb on. Be sure that it’s securely sunk in the ground so it doesn’t tip over. Growing peas in containers is possible with support.
Growing sugar snap peas in containers is very easy. And, it is the variety I recommend you start with if you’re a beginner. Mammoth Melting Snow Peas are a wonderful non-GMO, heirloom pea variety you can plant in a pot.
How many pea plants in a container?
If you’re wondering about planting peas in a container, it’s very simple. You should be able to plant 5 to 8 pea plants in a large garden pot. If it looks like they’re crowding as they grow, you can always thin them out a bit if you need to. Or, you can transplant them to another container.
How to plant peas in your garden
In the early spring after the ground has thawed about 4-6 weeks before the first frost you can direct sow your peas. These peas will take root and can generally survive the last few touches of frost. To help them survive, opt to use row covers over your seedling when a frost advisory goes into effect. To grow peas in contains, use a small cloche to protect them.
Avoid allowing your peas to sit in overly wet conditions. Well draining soil is best for your peas to thrive. You can use raised beds if you find that you need a little extra drainage. If growing in pots make sure they have adequate drainage to protect their growth.
How to grow peas in a pot in the fall
For more peas, you can plant again in the late summer allowing for 6-8 weeks before the first frost. This is a great way to get more vegetables in before the long cold winter comes. You can grow peas in containers twice each year.
Like with growing beans you can get a better germination rate by soaking your seeds before planting. Plant your peas 2-3 inches apart leaving 1 to 2 feet of space between rows. Mulch well and had weed to avoid causing damage to peas shallow root system that can easily be damaged.
Keep your peas well watered to prevent them from drying out. If your peas dry out they will not produce any new pods and the pods they have produced will die out. For the most part, watering 2-3 times a week with a thick layer of mulch will do the trick.
How to protect your peas from pests
Aphids and leafminers have a tendency to latch on to peas making for a difficult situation for many gardeners. These pests can be controlled with insecticidal soap, neam oil, or by attracting natural predators that will knock out pests in your garden. To do this place a bug house and a hummingbird feeder in your garden. Once you’ve learned how to grow peas in containers, you need to protect them from pests.
Your best defense on leafminers is to make your plants strong enough to survive their damage. Adding quality compost is always a great option for encouraging strong plants. Many gardeners have success dealing with leafminers by placing banana peels in their gardens at the base of their peas and green beans.
If you have pests like mice and rats, the best thing to do is to put chicken wire around the buckets. If the holes are small enough, it should help keep them out of the garden unless they tunnel underneath.
How to harvest your peas
Now that you know how to grow peas in containers, it’s time to harvest! Avoid snapping your peas off the vine as you can cause damage to your plants. Instead, you should harvest your peas using a sharp knife or a sharp pair of garden shears. Hold the pods firmly and cut the short stems connecting them to the plant after they have ripened with plump peas inside each pod.
How many peas per plant?
During the growing season check often for peas that are ready to be harvested to encourage your plant to grow more. How many peas you get per plant will depend on the health of the plant, how much sun and water they get, and the variety you choose. You generally get about three peas per pod and about five pods per plant. So, 15 peas per plant.
Before the first forest harvest all pea pods to save them before they can die off in the cold. Once you’ve learned how to grow peas in containers or the garden, you don’t want to lose most of your harvest.
What do you do with the plants after you harvest your peas?
After harvesting the last of your peas for the season you can use the stalks to help improve your garden soil further. You can pull the stalks and toss into your compost or save time and just till them right into your soil to allow them to add organic matter to improve drainage and to break down in your garden bed to improve the quality of the soil over time.
Learn more about topping pepper plants.
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
