Green arrow

Saturday, 05 September 2009 12:49

A favorite home garden variety. Vine height is from 2 to 2 1/2 feet. Approximately 68 days to maturity. The Green Arrow Pea plant is the favorite variety of home gardeners. Each 4” pod contains 9-11 sweet flavored peas that are considered a gourmet variety in Europe. Green Arrow Peas grow best in cooler temperatures so they should not be planted in late spring thru mid summer. Each pot contains 2-3 pea plants. Sturdy plants produce great yields. Stays sweet an extra-long time! Dark green pods grow in pairs at the top of the plant for easy picking. Nine to 11 perfectly plump peas per long, well-filled pod. Resists wilt and mildew. Most can be harvested 18-20 days after they flower. Peas thrive in the cool temperatures of spring and fall. Green Arrow Peas are resistant to most pea diseases and are the perfect variety for canning, freezing, or eating fresh. Special directions for short season climates Sowing: Sow directly into the garden as soon as the soil is workable from early to mid-spring. Sow seeds 2 inches apart and cover with 1 to 1 1/2 inches of fine soil firmed down. For successive crops, plant at 2 to 3 week intervals until mid-spring. Sow again in late July to early August for fall crop. Soil temperatures must be above 40 degrees. A second crop may be planted in mid-summer for fall harvest. In USDA zone 8 or warmer, plant in fall or winter for winter harvest. (In any climate, you can stagger 3 plantings one week apart to spread out the harvest period. You can also plant 2 or 3 varieties at the same time with different maturity dates. Spacing: Leave 2 to 2 1/2 feet between rows. Can be grown in wide rows sowing seeds 2 inches apart in all directions. Germination: Completely dependent upon outdoor temperatures and soil warmth, usually one to two weeks. Pre-soak seed for 24 hours before planting. Ideally, seedbeds should be prepared in fall; raised beds are recommended, because they will raise the early spring soil temperature and increase drainage. Treating seed with an inoculant (Rhizobia bacteria) may increase yields, since bacteria in the soil may not yet be active during the cool weather of early spring. Advice Peas grow best in moist rich soil throughout the cooler parts of the growing season. Water by soaking soil, avoid spraying foliage. A delicious source of many vitamins and minerals. When possible plant rows in a north-south direction for best sun exposure and good air circulation. Go to table of pea varieties