Pie pea is a delicious vegetable that is even better when fresh. Its cultivation is relatively simple, as the plant does not need much care and attention, but it is important to plant it in early winter, as it likes cooler climates. In addition, it is essential to plant the seeds directly in the soil, as the sensitive pie pea seedlings do not always survive transplanting. As it is an annual plant, that is, it completes its life cycle in one year, you must store some seeds if you want to grow other plants in the following year.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Planting the Pie
Step 1. Choose a sunny place to grow it
Pies do well if they are exposed to the sun and do not grow in shaded areas. Look for a space that receives at least six hours of sunlight a day.
Step 2. Prepare the bed for planting in mid-autumn
Pie pea like a fertile soil, with good drainage and a pH between 6 and 7. To achieve these characteristics, turn the soil to a depth of 30 cm and add tanned compost. To increase acidity, potassium and phosphorus levels, add a little wood ash or bone flour.
- Pies need a soil rich in potassium and phosphorus to grow and produce vegetables.
- This species is usually planted in winter, so prepare the soil in autumn to allow time.
Step 3. Schedule planting for mid or late winter
As pie pea is a cold climate cultivar that does not grow or produce pods when the temperature exceeds 25 ºC, it is important to start planting early, as soon as the soil is prepared. The ideal is to plant it in the middle of winter, when the night temperature drops a lot, staying below 10 °C, and the daytime temperature stays between 15 °C and 20 °C.
In warmer climates with mild winters, you can plant the pea in the fall to grow it during the winter
Step 4. Inoculate the seeds
Pie pea and other legumes grow better if, before planting, they undergo the process of inoculation with a bacteria responsible for the biological fixation of nitrogen in the soil. The day before planting the seeds, soak them in water for 24 hours. Just before planting, pass them in the inoculating powder to cover them with the bacteria.
The inoculating powder can be found at garden supply stores, seed stores, or online
Step 5. Plant the seeds in double rows
When planting, take a pencil or use your finger to open two rows of shallow holes in the ground. The holes should be 10 cm apart and 2.5 cm deep. The rows should be 60 cm apart. Place a seed in each hole and cover it with soil.
- Planting pie pea in double rows facilitates the placement of cuttings.
- In sandy soil, drill holes 5 cm deep.
Part 2 of 3: Taking care of the pea
Step 1. Water thoroughly after planting and weekly thereafter
Right after sowing, water the soil a lot so that the seeds are fixed. As the species has a tendency to rot, do not water it for ten days, until the seeds germinate. After that period, water the plant a lot once a week until it starts to bloom.
Check the soil every other day to see if it is dry. When it starts to dry, water immediately
Step 2. Place stakes or a trellis between the rows
Pies like to climb, but stakes or trellises make it easy to harvest even ground-growing varieties. There are a few options to choose from, including placing stakes in the middle of the rows, mounting a trellis or even supports for tomato plants.
Step 3. Apply a layer of humus to the soil after the plants become established
When the feet reach 5 cm in height, spread a layer of straw or chopped leaves on top of the soil to keep it moist and fresh and prevent weeds from growing.
As the pea grows, add more humus if necessary
Step 4. Pull out weeds by hand
All weeds that appear in the bed should be carefully removed by hand. The root of the pie pea is very delicate, so avoid digging the bed. Instead, hold the weeds by the stalk and pull up what you can, root and all, to crush the competition.
Step 5. Water the pea more often when it starts to bloom
Once the plants start to bloom, water them every day if necessary. They need more water at this stage to produce flowers and pods, especially if the weather is warming.
Part 3 of 3: Harvesting and Storing Pea Pie
Step 1. Start harvesting them as soon as the pods form
The pods form after the flowers start to die. With the pods young, soft and starting to gain volume, start harvesting. The sooner you do this, the more pods the plant should produce. To harvest them, hold the plant gently with one hand and pluck the pod with the other. Do not pull the pod straight from the plant or it may break.
- To protect the plant, harvest the pods in the morning rather than in the afternoon when the sun is too hot.
- It is important to harvest early if you intend to eat the pea in the pod (not just the peas), as the older pod becomes hard and uneatable.
- Each variety of pie pea ripens at different times, but in general the plant starts producing 50 to 70 days after planting.
Step 2. Let the pods grow bulky if you just want the peas
The pods that stay on the foot become harder and stiffer, but the peas become bigger and softer. If you only intend to eat the peas and not the pods, leave it on the vine and wait. Harvest them when the peas are tender.
Step 3. Enjoy raw or cooked peas
Peas and pods can be eaten raw, but it is more common to cook them. To get them out of the ripe pods, just open the edge and use your finger. Both options are delicious raw, cooked, fried or steamed.
Step 4. Store the vegetable in the refrigerator to consume in a few days
Pies keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to five days. After harvesting, wash them under running water to remove the soil. Dry them and place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Step 5. Bleach and freeze peas to make them last longer
Fill a large pot with water to boil over high heat. When the water starts to boil, add the peas and boil them for two minutes. Remove them from the water and soak them in a bowl of ice water for another two minutes. Drain and dry them before putting them in a zip-lock bag to take to the freezer.
- Bleaching before freezing helps preserve the color and flavor of the peas.
- Frozen pods last up to nine months in the freezer.
Step 6. Save some seeds for next year
Pie pea dies after a single season, but you can save the seeds to plant again the following year. Choose seeds from a strong, healthy plant. Leave some pods to dry on the vine. When they turn brown, harvest them. Remove the seeds from the inside and dry them in a towel or on a shelf for a week.
