Early spring vegetables are a delightful introduction to the world of gardening. Peas, one of the early spring vegetable crops, has been a favorite among gardeners since colonial settlers arrived with seeds to plant.

If your soil has been worked (possibly last fall) you can put in a crop of peas early in the spring and enjoy them before the summer gets very hot. Some diligent gardeners may have planted late last fall and just waited for the peas to come up this spring, but it isn’t necessary to do that for a good crop.

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. It is considered the prime time for planting peas. The nice thing is you don’t have to worry about whether or not the weather is really settled before planting peas because this vegetable likes cold weather better than you do. In fact, they do not do well in hot weather. If you have been in our area for even the past couple of weeks, you know how unsettled spring can be, switching from warm to wintery and back overnight.

Plant peas anytime in March, but they will do best if the soil temperature has risen to 50 degrees or higher. One benefit for families with young children is that pea seeds are large enough for small hands to handle and put into the ground.

The cool growing season of spring is not the only option for raising great peas, as fall weather is also conducive to a sweet, tasty harvest. Plant some soon in full sun in rich, loose soil high in organic matter. After you harvest them, plant again around July 15 for a fall harvest. The fruit and vines will tolerate a light frost in the fall and the harvest will be sweet and tasty.

You also have the option to interplant warm season crops that take longer to develop among your peas. After peas are harvested, warm season crops will fill the space.

Hot temperatures above 80 degrees and water stress will reduce yields and pod quality. Use organic mulches to help conserve water, supply extra nutrients, and reduce weeding.

Peas are garden pick-me-ups because they put on a great show with dainty looking tendrils and small white or purple flowers, followed by bright green pendulous pods of delicious peas.

You may have a garden that is minuscule or gigantic, but there is a variety for any size garden — even container gardens. Some plants grow a mere 12 inches high while others prefer a trellis growing 5 feet or more.

They don’t require too much extra care but trips to the garden to pick the pods. Some prefer to grow enough to can and freeze while others just like enough for dinner now and again. Still others just like to munch them raw straight from the vine.

Most varieties of peas grow well in Utah, but there are some differences between them. Pod sizes and shape vary and some are adapted to shelling and eating while others have tender pods good enough to eat along with the seeds.

Some of the better ones for this area include Garden Pea Dual, Early Frosty, Green Arrow, Lincoln, Little Marvel, Perfection Dark Seeded, Sparkle, Waldo, Snap/Snow Pea, Dwarf Grey Sugar, Oregon Sugar Pod, Snowflake, Sugar Daddy, Sugar Sprint, and Super Sugar Snap Dry Pea.

Since peas are legumes, they fix nitrogen in the soil. They need a complete fertilizer while planting but do not need additional fertilizer during the summer months. Plant them 2 inches apart in double rows 3 to 6 inches apart and 1 to 2 inches deep. Bush varieties do well on their own, but if you choose taller varieties, put them on trellises.

In our moist spring weather, watering is less of an issue than during the summer months. Water only when the top of the soil dries out. Water requirements increase while blooming and producing pods.

Harvest peas in 52 to 70 days depending on the variety and growing conditions. The kind you snap and shell should be picked when pods are full, but not swollen. Large peas are tough and not as sweet as when they are smaller. If you plan to save the seed, leave them on the vines until they dry and turn yellow.

Edible pod peas should be picked before you can see much of a pea inside. These pods are more tender before the pea size increases.

Peas may be canned or frozen to enjoy later, but you may enjoy them best of all for fresh eating.

Peas do not generally have too many problems with diseases and insects but you may have to battle with slugs and snails. Snail baits are not foolproof, but they are the best option you have, nevertheless.

If you are planning a garden with the plan to grow enough to store, plant 15 to 20 feet of row per person for fresh use and an additional 40 to 60 feet of row per person for canning or freezing.