Here’s everything you need to know about when and how to pick peas so they are at their freshest. It doesn’t matter what kind of pea tree you have.
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Youve learned how to grow peas and produced a good crop. Now its time to learn how and when to harvest the peas in your garden. Thankfully, this is the easiest (and most delicious) part of the process. There are only a few easy steps you need to follow to harvest any kind of peas. Then you can start enjoying your crop right away.
As a home gardener who loves growing delicious peas, determining the perfect time to pick them is key. Nothing beats the sweet, tender flavor of peas harvested at their peak. While it may seem tricky, there are clear signs that indicate your peas are ready for picking. In this article, we’ll explore the key things to look for when harvesting both shelling and snap peas so you can enjoy garden-fresh peas all season long.
What Type of Peas Are You Growing?
The first step is identifying whether you planted shelling peas (also called English peas or garden peas) or edible-podded peas like sugar snap peas. This determines the characteristics to look for when determining ripeness.
Shelling Peas
These are peas grown specifically for their seeds or peas inside the pod. The pods are discarded after the peas are shelled. The key signs shelling peas are ready to harvest include:
- Pods feel full and plump when gently squeezed. They should not feel overly firm or bulging.
- Pods turn from dark to bright green and take on a velvety appearance.
- Peas inside fill out the pod well but do not cause bulging or distortion of the pods.
- Vines begin to lose some rigidity as pods mature.
Pods that are overly bulging or starting to yellow indicate over-ripeness Pick and use these right away before they become fibrous
Snap and Snow Peas
For edible-podded peas like sugar snaps and snow peas use these visual cues to know when they are ripe for picking
- Pods appear glossy, succulent and crisp. Avoid pods that look fibrous or limp.
- Shape is uniformly rounded without bulges or indentations.
- Color remains vibrant green without yellowing.
- Peas are visible inside the pod but do not cause distortion of the pod shape.
- Pods snap cleanly when bent and are tender, not stringy.
Once pods lose sheen and crispness, they will quickly become starchy and less enjoyable to eat. Pick right away at optimal ripeness.
How to Check If Your Peas Are Ready
The best way to determine ripeness is to visually inspect pods on a daily basis as they near maturity. Here are some tips:
- Gently run your fingers along the pods, feeling for fullness. Squeeze very lightly to test resilience.
- Check color along entire length of pods for any yellowing or loss of vibrancy.
- For snap peas, carefully bend a pod. It should snap cleanly without stringiness.
- Use pruning shears to cut and sample 1-2 average sized pods. Taste peas or pods to ensure desired tenderness and sweetness.
- Monitor vines for loss of rigidity as pods fill out. This signals maturity.
Catching peas at their prime is an art that comes with experience! Start checking frequently when blooms appear, so you don’t miss the optimal harvest window.
How Mature Should Peas Be When Picked?
Peas can be enjoyed at varying stages of maturity depending on preference:
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Young tender peas: Pods will be slender and peas inside undeveloped. Eat pods and peas for a tender, sweeter flavor.
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Peak maturity: Peas fill out pods but do not cause bulging. Sweet, tender peas and crisp, succulent pods.
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Mature peas: Pods are fully rounded with indented peas visible. Flavor will be more starchy than sweet. Use these immediately.
Most gardeners prefer to harvest at peak maturity when pods are completely filled out but before indentations form. Timing is essential to capture peas at their pinnacle of sweetness and flavor.
Harvesting Techniques
Use proper harvesting techniques to ensure you pick peas without damaging plants:
- Use hand pruners or scissors for clean cutting rather than tearing pods.
- Hold vines gently and avoid tugging or pulling during harvesting.
- Cut each pod individually while supporting vines.
- Harvest frequently, at least every 2-3 days. This encourages continuous pod production.
- Pick early in the day when pods are coolest and free of field heat.
- Handle peas gently to prevent bruising. Use containers with air circulation.
Consistent harvesting keeps plants vibrant and productive. Allowing pods to over-mature can signal to the plant to stop producing. Stay diligent once your peas start ripening!
Storing Your Freshly Picked Peas
For best flavor and longevity, follow these pea storage tips:
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Refrigerate peas immediately in a perforated plastic bag. Do not wash prior to storage.
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Keep temperature as close to 32°F (0°C) as possible. Avoid storing peas near ethylene-producing fruits.
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Consume peas within 3-5 days for optimal freshness and flavor. Peas do not store well long-term.
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Shell and blanch peas before freezing if storing longer than 5 days. Allow to fully cool before packing.
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Do not wash peas until ready to prepare them. Handling under running water causes flavor loss.
With the right harvesting and storage methods, you can enjoy garden-fresh peas for many weeks! Use these tips to master identifying when your peas reach peak ripeness so you can pick, prepare and savor them at their best. Happy pea picking!
How to Harvest Peas
You can pick pea pods from plants when they are flat and the right length for the type of peas you want to grow. When to pick peas is determined by what you want from the pea. If you prefer edible hulls with developed seeds, allow more time before picking peas.
When you are picking shelling peas for the seeds, pods should be plump and have a swollen appearance. Check a few of the biggest pods randomly to see if they are the size you want. This, in combination with the number of days since planting, guides you on how to harvest pea seeds. ( credit: SolStock / Getty s).
Once youve started harvesting peas, check them daily. When to harvest peas a second time depends on their growth, which can vary by the outdoor temperature. Some more peas may be ready for the second harvest in a day or two.
As long as all the peas were planted at the same time, the harvest usually takes one to two weeks. Harvest as many times as needed to remove all peas from the vines. Successive plantings allow a continuing supply of seeds and hulls ready to harvest.
When to Harvest Peas
Both tender hulls and seeds of peas are edible. Tender, edible pods come from the early harvest. It depends on when you want to harvest pea seeds and pods and what part of the vegetable you like to use.
- When picking peas for pods, sugar snap peas should be soft and have seeds that aren’t fully developed yet.
- When pods form but pea seeds don’t show up, snow peas are ready to be picked.
- Garden peas that are grown for their seeds should be fully grown but still have tender peas when they are picked.
Start checking the peas at the right time after planting them, and pick the ones that are the ripest. If you planted an early variety of peas, you can pick the pods for eating as early as 54 days after planting.
When to Harvest Peas
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