Lathyrus sativus
Grass pea
Common names: Chickling vetch, Indian pea
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 15 cm, rows 30 cm
- Lifespan
- Annual
- Sowing
- Apr–May
- Harvest
- Aug–Sep
- Hardiness
- Cold damage below −2 °C
- Water need
- Low
Description
Lathyrus sativus, commonly known as the grass pea, is one of the oldest cultivated legumes in Europe. It is a hardy, drought‑tolerant plant that fixes nitrogen through its root nodules, making it an excellent cover crop for small gardens. The seeds are edible and have a pea‑like, nutty flavor, but they should be consumed in moderation and not used as a primary food source for extended periods. High, prolonged consumption can lead to neurological effects due to a toxin present in the seeds. Today the plant is mainly grown as a supplemental food and soil improver, and raw seeds should not be eaten in large quantities by children.
Care instructions
Sow the grass pea from mid‑April (week 16) directly into the garden once the soil has warmed; no pre‑germination is required. It prefers a well‑drained, light to moderately fertile soil and tolerates low water well, avoiding water‑logged spots. Provide light support such as straw or a fence for the vines to keep the stand airy and allow quick drying after rain. Harvest the pods in August (week 32) when they turn brown, and leave some plants standing after flowering if you intend to use them as a cover crop and incorporate them into the soil later. Rotate the location each year to prevent the buildup of soil‑borne diseases.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingApr–May
HarvestAug–Sep
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 5 °C, ideally 15 °C
- Days to sprout
- 7 to 14 days
- Light
- Sprouts in light or dark
- Sowing depth
- 3 cm
- How to start
- Sow straight into the bed
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, lean, lime-loving, dry
The grass pea likes free-draining, rather poor soil and copes well with dry spells. It tolerates heavy, waterlogged soils poorly, because the roots rot quickly there. A sunny spot with some lime in the soil suits it best.
After legumes such as the grass pea, heavy feeders benefit from the nitrogen reserves enriched in the soil. Grow legumes in the same bed again only after 4 years to avoid soil fatigue.
Feeding
Light feeder
As a legume, the grass pea fixes nitrogen from the air itself via its root nodules and therefore needs hardly any extra feeding. A thin helping of compost at planting is quite enough. Soil that is too nutrient-rich only promotes foliage at the expense of the pods.
Overwintering
The grass pea is an annual and is not overwintered after the harvest in autumn. You can put the plant remains on the compost or work them in shallowly as a green manure. For the next season you need fresh seed from the spring.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
Sow directly outdoors from mid-April, once the soil has warmed. Set the seeds about 3 to 4 cm deep and sow them about 15 cm apart so that the tendrils have enough room. A climbing support makes growth easier for the plants and keeps the pods clean off the ground. Soaking the seeds in water overnight beforehand noticeably speeds up germination.
Companion planting
Good neighbors
cabbage family (Brassicaceae)
particularly well establishedLeguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.
For example White cabbageKohlrabiRadishKalebroccolicauliflower and 41 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
carrot family (Apiaceae)
Peas and beans provide carrot and celery with nitrogen and grow as shallow-rooted plants without competition next to each other.
For example CarrotCeleriacDillParsleyFlorence fennelCoriander and 21 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
Rather not
amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae)
particularly well establishedAllium species inhibit the nitrogen‑fixing rhizobia of legumes through their root exudates, which slows their growth.
For example GarlicOnionLeekChivesWild daffodilRocambole and 12 more species in the catalogue
Source: basic crop‑rotation rule
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
For your garden
Grow Grass pea yourself
Gartenkern tells you when frost is coming, when to sow and when to harvest, for your location.
Free, no time limit
Notes from real gardens
What other gardeners have written down about this variety, anonymous and voluntary.
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