When winter lingers and you’re longing to start your garden, it’s peas to the rescue! You can direct sow this cold-weather crop as soon as the ground can be worked and reaches 45 degrees F. In fact, the greenest holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, typically signals the start of pea-planting season. By May, you’ll be picking and enjoying your fresh peas while all the other crops are just getting going. And when the temperatures drop again in the fall and the rest of the garden is petering out, you can plant peas again for late-season enjoyment!

Peas are eager to please—they are among the easiest crops to grow. Most varieties just need water, a bit of fertilizer, and something to climb on. And peas are so nutritious—packed with protein, low calorie, and full of fiber! That’s why we’ve prepared this all-in-one guide for you about growing, harvesting, and eating—with some easy-to-prepare and tasty recipes—your own home-grown peas.

In this collection’s Introduction, you’ll first learn some history and basics about peas—to get you ready for growing your own. Then, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get specifics about pea gardening—from types of plants and soil preparation to watering, weeding, and controlling and preventing disease.

If you’re already an advanced pea and food gardener, some of this may be refresher content for you. But, stick with it, because you’re certain to learn something new, especially when it comes to the history of peas and the recipes!

In Plant Profiles, you’ll learn about six popular varieties of peas, so you’ll get specific details about the characteristics and best uses for particular varieties of peas.

While there are many types and varieties of peas, we’ve chosen these six pea plant profiles because these are some of the most commonly grown. If you’d like us to include another pea variety that appeals to you, please let me know by commenting below.

We are, after all, a network of food gardeners—for and by fellow food gardeners—who want to enjoy all the benefits of growing our own delicious food at home!

One of the things that makes Food Gardening Network unique is the assortment of super easy and delicious Recipes, so that you can enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. Peas are no exception!

These pea recipes include uses for salads, side dishes, and stir-frys. Everyone at your table will enjoy the dishes you make from your home-grown peas. Fresh peas are delicious when cooked quickly and simply, or when combined with a variety of flavors from around the world. However you prepare them, these dishes will become staples in your household. Enjoy your pea harvest with these tasty recipes, and your family and friends will appreciate all of your pea gardening efforts!

Next, you’ll learn Nutrition Facts about Peas to find out exactly which nutrients are found in peas—and to what degree—and the most common compounds. Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Peas will help you learn about how key nutrients in peas can help prevent some diseases, such as heart disease and osteoporosis. You’ll also learn all about other benefits and uses for peas, besides just enjoying their garden-fresh deliciousness.

To help you explore the practically perfect world of peas even further, we’ve included a Resources section that is complementary to this collection. We aim to give you everything you need to grow, harvest, and eat delicious peas, but feel free to take a deeper dive into these additional resources by visiting the links provided.

Finally, you’ll find a brief Glossary at the end of this collection in case you need a fuller explanation of any key terms and concepts.

Are you ready to give peas a chance? Let’s get started!