Planting Winter's First Crops

Garden peas ready for harvest

As food prices increase many families are looking to their own backyards as a source of fresh, healthy, locally grown vegetables. Irish potatoes and garden peas are two of the earliest crops gardeners can plant outside. Both are easy to grow, highly productive, and favorites of both kids and adults at the dinner table. 

Garden peas, and their relatives, snow peas and sugar snaps, are simple and productive crops that almost anyone can grow. Peas grow best in sunny areas with well drained soil that is not too acidic, ideally with a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5. In coastal areas, peas can be planted outside as early as mid January. Even away from the coast peas should be planted by mid February at the latest so they have enough time to mature before hot weather sets in. Garden and snow peas that develop under temperatures above 80° will be starchy and tough.  

Seed potato piece ready for planting

Potatoes planted in early February will be ready to harvest in May and June. For best results, plant only certified seed potatoes, which can be purchased from garden centers this time of year. Certified seed potatoes are small potatoes that have been grown under special conditions to ensure they are free of diseases and usually give better results than potatoes purchased from the grocery store. 

When cutting seed potatoes into sections, make sure each piece includes at least one sprout, known as an 'eye'. Red skin potatoes will have pink eyes, while yellow skin potatoes will have green eyes.

To learn more about growing peas and potatoes, read the rest of the article on the Pender Cooperative Extension website, http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+165.

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