Finding new ways to use your food scraps can be trickier than expected. Do you have frozen peas you want to try planting but don't know if they'll germinate and grow? Is it possible for frozen peas to sprout after you plant them in the ground?
We will answer all of these questions and others throughout this article. Let's dive in!
Unfortunately, frozen peas won't usually germinate and become pea plants after you put them into the soil. In contrast, your peas may start to decompose after a while outdoors in the dirt, so this project won't be eventful.
Although you can sometimes plant frozen veggies into the ground and watch them grow, peas work a bit differently and aren't capable of this.
As we begin this article, we will cover all things growing peas and whether frozen peas will grow if you put them in the ground. Whether you're trying to find a fun garden project for the family, have too many frozen bags of peas, or have other questions, we're here to assist. Let's get into it below!
Can I Plant Frozen Peas In The Ground?
Although this sounds like a good plan, you can't generally plant frozen peas and expect them to grow. One of the reasons for this is that frozen pea pods won't germinate.
So, if you try and place them in the soil, they'll likely start to decompose rather than sprout. Peas are usually an easy crop to grow and harvest, but for whatever reason, frozen ones don't like to be planted.
However, you can try and grow non-frozen, store-bought peas in your garden, so your options don't end at the frozen food section.
Many experts claim that store-bought peas grow rather quickly after you plant them, given they're organic and not frozen.
Where Can I Find Peas To Plant In My Garden?
Since peas are best direct-seeded right in the ground, you want to choose ones that are organic/natural and haven't been frozen. As we said, frozen peas from the store won't germinate, which means no pea plant will grow from them.
Therefore, try finding pea seeds from a garden store or even fresh bagged peas from the grocery. The key is purchasing peas that have not been heavily processed or frozen.
Instead of ripping open a bag of already-frozen/processed peas and trying to revive them, it's easier to find a bag of seedlings from a local nursery.
You may even have luck at Walmart, The Home Depot, or Lowes, so there are plenty of places to check. On top of physical locations, online retailers also send pea seeds, so you won't have to search far for them.
Certified Organic Dried Green Pea Sprouting Seed
This bag of pea seeds is organic, perfect for gardening, produces green peas, come in a one-pound bag, are easy to grow, and has a resealable bag for storage.
Follow this link to see them on Amazon.
What Month Do You Plant Peas?
For those wanting to take on a gardening project, you can plant peas between February, March, or April in most of the United States. Think of this as early spring because your peas like cooler weather when they first go into the ground.
With that said, if you're in a warmer region, you can certainly plant your peas during the fall or winter. Regardless, it's best to grow peas starting in a cooler season, so they can develop roots and acclimate.
Super hot conditions don't make germination easier and can lead your plants to die before they sprout or fully develop in the soil. So, if it's the middle of June or July, we don't recommend planting pea seeds.
Depending on where you live, even the spring may be too hot for peas, so this will be slightly different for everybody. Some heat is good, although sweltering temperatures aren't.
How Do You Plant Peas?
Now that you know the basics, it's time to plant your pea seeds. Luckily, this process isn't hard and won't require much preparation or time.
Here are some factors to consider when planting your peas:
- Prepare a spot for your peas (a raised garden bed works best).
- Soak your peas in water overnight before planting them.
- Sow your pea seeds one inch into the ground, deeper if the soil is dry.
- Spread your peas apart two inches.
- Water your newly planted peas, keep their soil moist, and wait for germination.
You might also want to watch this video on planting peas from YouTube:
How Long Do Peas Take To Grow?
Peas are relatively fast-growing, so you won't wait long to see them sprout. Specifically, it takes roughly 60 days for peas to be ready to harvest, so you'll notice sprouting within a couple of weeks after planting.
As we covered above, you want to plant peas in the early spring (or winter if you're somewhere warm), so you should have harvestable crops come summertime.
According to the University of Minnesota, peas will stop producing flowers and pods once temperatures exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Since this is typical summer weather for most of the United States, your peas will stop growing once June or July comes.
In general, peas do better in moderate or cool climates, so growing them in sweltering USDA zones isn't always a great idea. Moreover, your peas may not sprout at all if the temperatures are above 85-90 degrees, so this can quickly become a problem.
Where Is The Best Place To Plant Peas?
The best place to plant your peas is somewhere with full sun and well-draining soil. Considering you will plant your pea seeds during the early spring or winter, they need plenty of sunshine to grow.
In addition, your pea plants need nutrient-rich soil, so you may want to mix fresh manure, compost, and mulch into the ground before planting.
Peas aren't generally difficult to grow or harvest, but their conditions can affect that. For example, if you plant your peas in full shade, they will not likely germinate correctly or even sprout.
On top of that, if the weather is chilly, too much shade can quickly become deadly for a pea plant.
Even cool-season vegetables need daily warmth to mature and produce pods/flowers, so that's something else to keep in mind.
Your soil's drainage will also affect how well your peas grow, so ensure there's a healthy mixture of sand, gravel, and dirt. Heavily compacted ground isn't suitable for growing peas, as it can drown them.
Do Peas Prefer To Grow In Full Sun?
Yes! Your pea plants prefer to be in full sun during their time in your garden. Considering peas need at least six hours of sun daily, having them be somewhere with direct exposure is ideal.
Furthermore, if you plant peas during the early spring or fall/winter, the sun will keep them warm enough to germinate and develop into pea-producing crops.
If your garden has too much shade, that's when you can run into health problems with your peas.
Typically, when a plant gets little to no sunlight, it becomes leggy and won't produce as many blooms/yields. Therefore, if you want to harvest your peas, we recommend giving them full sun.
However, if you live somewhere with warmer daily temperatures, that's when partial or dappled shade can be beneficial. Try to find a healthy balance of sun, warmth, and ground conditions for your peas.
How Much Water Do Peas Need?
Since you usually grow peas during cooler seasons, your watering schedule won't be extensive. Most times, you only need to give your pea plants water once a week, although, in the beginning, this may be more frequent.
Experts recommend soaking the soil around your peas each time you water. Since you aren't watering peas too often, you want to make the most of each time.
Specifically, you want to try and soak the top inch of soil and then let it dry out before the next application. Even though watering your peas 2-3 times a week seems helpful, you're doing more harm than good.
So, remember to water your peas once weekly, soak the top inch of soil, and then wait until your plant dries out a bit before the next application. Every garden will be different.
You may even want to purchase a water meter for the ground to give you accurate readings.
XLUX Long Probe Soil Moisture
This moisture reader works for all soil types, can go inside or outdoors, doesn't need batteries, is easy to read, features a seven-inch probe, and comes in two sizes.
Check out this link to see it on Amazon.
Are Peas Easy To Grow From Seed?
Yes! If you plant peas at the right time and give them good conditions, they'll be easy to grow and eventually harvest.
Although peas have a short lifespan, you can expect great results from your crops if you give them well-draining soil, full sun exposure, and keep them somewhere that doesn't exceed 85 degrees.
Remember, every plant is different, so some peas will produce more pods than others!
To Finish It Up
Whether you want to try planting peas from frozen ones or seeds, it's always good to know how your plant grows. We found that you can't grow frozen peas from the bag but can grow organic, unfrozen/treated peas successfully in your garden.
Generally, peas take 60 days to be ready for harvesting, so this is a brief timeline. On top of that, your peas will need to go into the ground in the early spring or the fall/winter if you're somewhere warmer.
This crop is easy to grow, but you must provide it with well-draining soil, full sun, and space to flourish.
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