Field Pea — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Pisum sativum var. arvense |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 7–14 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 4.4–18.3 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 90–120 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 5.1–10.2 |
| Mature height (cm) | 45.7–121.9 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 30.5–61 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 3–10 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Field pea (Austrian winter pea) is the premier cool-season legume cover crop for the Gulf Coast and southeastern United States, providing rapid establishment, heavy nitrogen fixation, and excellent biomass production during the mild Gulf South winter when most cover crops struggle. Planted in fall, it overwinters as a cold-hardy vine, fixes 50–150 pounds of atmospheric nitrogen per acre, and produces 2–4 tons of organic matter per acre by the time it is terminated in spring — a nitrogen contribution equivalent to a full pre-plant fertilizer application that is released slowly as the biomass decomposes. The trailing vines suppress winter weeds effectively and the purple-pink flowers attract native bees in late winter and spring when few other plants are blooming; the tender vine tips are edible by humans, livestock, and wildlife. In zone 8–10, field peas can be planted as early as September for maximum winter biomass; terminate by mowing or rolling in spring 2–4 weeks before planting summer crops to allow nitrogen release.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0