Meteor Dwarf Pea

The Meteor Pea (Pisum sativum in Latin) is a very early and quite hardy pea with a very compact habit. It produces numerous small pods filled with tasty peas. It can be grown in both the garden and in pots on the balcony. It can be sown in March - April or October - November (in mild climates) for a harvest from May to July.

The Pea is an annual vegetable plant belonging to the Fabaceae family (formerly Leguminosae) with an ancient origin in the Near East. It is one of the oldest cultivated vegetables in Europe and Asia. It was long consumed dry, crushed before cooking, and its fresh consumption is relatively recent.

There are many varieties of Peas: dwarf or climbing (pole) varieties that produce pods filled with smooth or wrinkled round peas. They are cooked after being shelled because the parchment-like pod in which they are enclosed is not edible. Only Snow Peas (with flat, crunchy, and buttery pods) are consumed in their entirety.

In general, climbing Peas are more productive but crop later and require support 1.5 to 2 metres (5 to 7 feet) high for them to climb. Their harvest is easy. Dwarf or semi-dwarf Peas only require a few sticks or canes (from 50cm (20in) to 1 metre (3 feet)) as supports. Some recent varieties, with foliage largely replaced by tendrils, can support themselves, and the use of supports is then optional.

Smooth-grained Peas are resistant to spring cold. They are very early or early varieties that can be sown very early under cover, but they do not tolerate excessive heat very well.

For late spring and early summer sowings, wrinkled grain varieties with a sweeter flavour are used. They tolerate heat and offer longer harvests.

Peas are highly appreciated in spring, but with careful selection of varieties, they can be harvested over a long period from June to September.

In cooking, Peas can be consumed raw, but they are traditionally cooked to accompany meats and fish or for the preparation of delicious soups. They are quite calorie-rich as they are rich in carbohydrates, but also contain a lot of fibre, iron, and vitamins C and B9.

Peas prefer mild and humid climates but are sensitive to extreme weather conditions such as high temperatures, frosts, and water shortages, which weaken them and make them susceptible to powdery mildew and the pea moth, a small caterpillar that feeds on the seeds.

Harvest: Depending on the varieties, Peas are harvested between two and a half and four months after sowing. Harvesting should be regular and done when the pods feel full when pressed with a finger. Don't wait too long... Peas tend to become tough as they age!

Storage: Fresh Peas can be stored, unshelled, in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. They freeze well once blanched in boiling water.

Gardener's tip: Peas, like all Fabaceae, have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, acting as green manure. This nitrogen supply benefits both the plants that are grown nearby and those that will be planted subsequently in a crop rotation system.