By Noelle Henderson
Whether you are a novice gardener or proudly sport a green thumb, peas are the perfect vegetable to get your garden growing. That’s because they are simple to sow, fast to sprout, and fun to pick! And peas are perfect for little fingers.
Peas are climbers, so the first step is creating a trellis. With just a few simple materials you can easily build a small trellis frame or teepee at home. DIY network provides a step-by-step guide to building a trellis for growing peas. Diggin Food shows several trellis variations, but you can get creative and come up with your own! And Garden Therapy shows an easy method for making a trellis with your kids.
Trellis standing firmly in a sunny area, it’s time to get planting. Place peas in a row at the base of your trellis, spaced one inch apart. Have your kids poke each little pea about one inch into the soil and then cover with soil. Repeat this process until all the peas have been sown.
Pea shoots burst through the ground within a week. Tiny tendrils latch on to the trellis as it grows. It’s fun for the kids to watch them grow, and gently guide them into place if necessary. Flowers are the beginning to the fruit (or vegetable) of a plant. Soon you will be able to taste just how sweet your peas have grown…
Harvesting peas is like a treasure hunt! Be sure to harvest the pea pods once they are about the size of your thumb, or larger. Not only will they be tender and sweet, but it will encourage continued new growth. Send your kids out daily to check for new pods… chances are, the peas will end up in their mouths before making it in to the house.