Crop Rotation Group
Legumes (Pea and Bean family)
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Soil
Any average, well drained soil.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
A cool-season annual, winter field peas (Austrian peas), can tolerate heavy frost but are killed by temperatures below -17 to -23C (0 to -10F).
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Feeding
When using winter field peas to improve very poor soil, mixing a balanced organic fertiliser into the soil before planting will give better results.
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Companions
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Spacing
Single Plants: 10cm (3") each way (minimum)
Rows: 10cm (3") with 20cm (7") row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Poke holes in prepared seedbed and plant seeds 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) deep. Gaps between plants can be filled with an upright grain.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Primarily grown to increase soil nitrogen. Highly recommended as a winter green manure to go before sweet corn because of its vigorous nitrogen-fixing activity in early spring. Very low weedy potential compared to other green manures.
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Harvesting
For maximum nitrogen gain, chop plants down and turn them under as soon as they begin to bloom. You also can pull up the plants and compost them.
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Troubleshooting
Allow at least 3 weeks after turning under winter pea residue before direct-seeding vegetables, because the rotting vegetation can cause an increase in damping off of seedlings.
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