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Pisum sativum var. saccharatum

Sugar pea

Common names: Sweet pea, Emperor pea, Kefe

Sugar pea

Photo: JS · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

This description was machine-translated.

Description

The sugar pea is a tender, sweet pod that is eaten whole, including the tiny seeds inside. Unlike other peas, it has no papery inner lining. Fresh from the plant, the pods are wonderfully sweet and crisp, so they are rarely used in cooking. As a butterfly flower, it also improves the soil by fixing nitrogen.

Care instructions

Sow from March to May directly into the garden in a shallow furrow about 4 cm deep and set up a trellis or netting early for climbing. Keep the soil evenly moist, especially after flowering. Harvest the pods young and continuously while the seeds are still just indicated, this keeps the plant productive.

Soil & site

Soil pH

4.0pH 6–7.58.0

Soil type

loamy, humus-rich, well-drained, nutrient-rich

LightFull sun
HardinessFrost-sensitive
Crop rotationLegumes
Water needMedium

Feeding

Light feeder

Companion planting

Good neighbors

cabbage family (Brassicaceae)

particularly well established

Leguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.

For example White cabbageKalebroccolicauliflowerbeet greensBrussels sprout and 32 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 celery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCorianderCelery (Stalk Celery) and 18 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

gourd family (Cucurbitaceae)

Beans and peas enrich the soil with nitrogen, which cucurbits, as heavy feeders, can make good use of.

For example Pumpkinpickling cucumberButternutHokkaidoPatissonSpaghetti squash and 12 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

Rather not

amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae)

particularly well established

Allium species inhibit the nitrogen‑fixing rhizobia of legumes through their root exudates, which slows their growth.

For example ChivesDaffodilRocamboleElephant garlicRed Onionshallot and 9 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.

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