Rocky Mountain States: Growing Peas in the Rockies

Peas thrive in cool temperatures and prefer the slightly sweet (alkaline) soil common in the intermountain West. Give them well-drained soil, full sun, and mulch roots with organic blanket when spring turns to summer.

Sow as early as ground can be worked. Dig shallow trench 1.5″ deep, sprinkle bonemeal, space seeds 2″ apart. Support vines with wire trellis or nylon-mesh net (1.5″ holes for tendrils) between stakes.

For hardiness and flavor, edible-pod snow peas are hard to beat. 'Oregon Sugar Pod' bears 4–5″ pods great in soups, stir-fries, raw, or blanched 1 minute for vivid green color and sweet crispness. To mail-order, try...