Planting Tips: Peas are one of the easiest crops to grow and among the first to produce in the garden. They can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked in spring and also make a nice fall crop in many regions. Sow seeds about 1 inch deep in moist, well-tilled soil, spacing them roughly 3 inches apart.

I like to plant all my peas in double rows. The taller varieties, such as Tall Telephone, grow beautifully on stock panel trellises with a row on each side. The shorter types are planted in double rows about 6 inches apart. This arrangement increases your harvest per foot of garden space and helps the plants support one another — preventing bush-type varieties from flopping over when they’re heavy with pods.

Harvesting Tips: Harvest sugar pod peas before the peas inside become plump, and shelling peas after they’ve filled out, but not so late that they turn tough. Keep the vines well picked to encourage longer production.

Seed Saving Tips: When warm weather approaches, allow a few plants to mature for seed saving. Once the pods turn tan and dry, pick them and shell out the peas. Spread the seeds on a cookie sheet to finish drying completely, then store them in an airtight container.