Peas are one of the best low maintenance, carefree vegetables in the home vegetable garden. Peas can be planted as soon as the winter snows melt for an early spring harvest and planted again in late summer for a fall harvest. An old time favorite, they can be eaten raw, or cooked briefly, and used in a number of other dishes.

Peas are carefree plants in the vegetable garden. There are generally pest and disease free if given the proper sunlight and moisture conditions and in many cases a fence or a trellis. The plants don't mind some overcrowding and can tolerate and enjoy cooler weather conditions. Peas normally will quit producing once the temperatures rise into the seventies.

While some other popular vegetables tend to get more attention when it comes to healthy eating, the homegrown pea is a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals and fibers. Peas supply eight different vitamins including the important Vitamin K1 necessary for healthy bones, Vitamins A and C. According to some sources, one serving of peas, provides as much Vitamin C as two apples. Peas also provide iron and phosphorous.

Peas are one of the advantageous vegetable legumes. They have plenty of protein and can be used as a substitute for meats. Peas are also low in fat and cholesterol.

While peas have many health benefits, they also help improve the soil. Peas extract nitrogen from the air and it is stored in the root of the plant. There is no need to add nitrogen to the soil when planting peas, any ant legume. Just be sure after the harvest to dig the roots back into the soil and allow them to decompose. Added nitrogen to the pea garden will make for lush plants and very few pods filled with peas.

There are over 1,000 varieties of peas which have been cultivated since the old Roman Empire and remained an important crop in colonial America. There are peas specifically grown for fresh eating, some pods and all, drying for soups, bush and pole varieties. While most are green, there are some other variations available.

Once a variety has been selected, site location needs to be considered. Peas will take some shade but prefer as much sun as possible. Peas do best in a well drained area with ample moisture and protected from high winds.

Most varieties require some sort of support, although there are some which can be grown without. Some peas can reach upwards of six to eight feet and can shade other valuable garden plants if not located in the proper spot. Other varieties need a smaller support system and even twigs can be used for support.

The soil should be well dug before planting. Pea roots like to grow downward. While no nitrogen is needed, bone meal could be a possible organic addition to the soil. Soil tests are generally inexpensive and the results could help to determine if anything needs to be added.

Pea seeds are large and some home gardeners recommend soaking the seeds for several hours to encourage germination. In some areas, normal spring weather is always damp so it pays to watch reliable weather forecasts before planting.

The seeds should be planted at least an inch deep in the early spring soil. Depending on weather conditions, the peas should sprout in about a week. It is important to keep the peas well watered and weed free for a good crop.

Companion planting is the age old practice of grouping plants together which are beneficial to each other. Peas get along with a lot of other vegetables in the garden and either help or are helped by potatoes, bush or Pole beans, carrots, eggplants and spinach, radishes and turnips. Peas do not get along well with onions.

After the peas bloom in about four weeks, edible pods begin to appear. Adequate moisture is critical during bloom time; if conditions are dry, watering becomes important at this stage. Most peas mature in about fifty to sixty days and are ready for table use or froze for future use.

Peas, an old time favorite, remains a valuable, low maintenance garden vegetable, and a nutritious addition to any meal.