Organic Green Pea

Green Peas as a Garden Plant

In the home garden, green peas should be planted in an area with good sunlight and with well-drained soil. Green peas prefer a cooler growing season and are sometimes grown in the winter and early spring in more temperate climates. Green peas need to be planted with enough time to reach maturity before summer becomes too hot and curbs production.

Green peas are a very low maintenance plant and once they have been planted and watered they need very little attention. Green peas need to be sown thickly, as this crowds out weeds, keeps the soil cool, and is an efficient use of space. No need to thin the green pea plants out as they grow. Once temperatures start to increase, make sure the soil never dries out since this will affect the quality of the pea pods produced.

Popular Uses

Green peas are often boiled and seasoned with butter or mint as a side dish. Peas can be added to soups, salads, casseroles, and other savory dishes. Our green peas are excellent when sprouted and add great texture to salads, as they have a crisp texture and mildly sweet flavor. Mushy green peas are a favorite vegetable dish in England and are often served alongside fish and chips. Try cooking and mashing our green peas with some salt and pepper and serving them with your next meal!

• Soups
• Salads
• Sprouting
• Side dishes

History

Green peas were mentioned frequently in the Middle Ages, Charles the Good even expressed how important their role was at combating famine in 1124. Peas, particularly fresh green garden peas, became an item of luxury in the 17th century when they were presented to King Louis XIV in a hamper and shelled in front of him and his court. Green peas were still en vogue at the end of the 1600s. Green peas, along with lentils and other legumes, were very much a staple of many diets of those in the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. They maintained their significance in North America, so much so that Thomas Jefferson even grew more than 30 varieties of green peas on his estate!

Health Benefits

Peas, like other legumes, are high in plant protein and fiber. A 100 gram serving of green peas contains around 5.5 grams of protein and fiber. Green peas are low in fat and carbohydrates. Additionally, green peas are high in iron and B vitamins. Green peas also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytonutrients that support eye health.