Varieties
Blackeye #5, Champion Cream, Colossus, Crowder, Mississippi Silver, Pink Eye Purple Hull, Texas Cream 8, Texas Pinkeye, Zipper Cream
Soil Preferences
Fine Sandy Loam to light sandy clays, with pH 6.0 - 7.5; highly calcareous soils can cause chlorosis which can result in yield reduction.
Optimum Growing Conditions
Warm to hot days (85-95°F) and warm nights (60-65°F), with mean temperature 70-80°F.
Establishment Methods
| Planting Method | Direct seeded |
|---|---|
| Optimum Time | Soil temperature > 65°F and danger of frost is over |
| Seeding rate | 12-40 lbs/acre |
| Approx seed/oz | 200-250 |
| Seeding depth | 0.75 - 1.0" |
| Seedling spacing | 2-6" on 36-42" beds (depending on variety grown) |
Fertility/Fertilization
Rates presented as actual lbs/acre N2, P2o5, and K2o (base actual rates applied on soil test results).| Generalized rate: 35-60-70 lb/acre | |
| N* | 20-60 lbs applied pre-plant |
|---|---|
| P | 60-80 lbs band approximately 3" below seed at planting |
| K | 40-100 lbs applied pre-plant with N |
| Lime | 0.5 - 1.0 ton/acre applied in fall (ONLY in East Texas and other areas with pH < 6.0) |
Water/Irrigation
10 to 20"; critical demand period is at bloom. Maintain uniform moisture throughout fruit set and pod development, but do not water log soils.Pest Management
Southern Pea Diseases and Common Name of Fungicidal Controls
| DISEASE | FUNGICIDE* | OMRI LISTED FUNGICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Fusarium wilt | 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, fludioxonil, potassium phosphite, trifloxystrobin, | streptomyces lydicus, |
| Nematode | 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, metam-potassium, metam-sodium, sesame oil, | azadirachtin, |
| Powdery mildew/Rust | copper sulfate, paraffinic oil, potassium phosphite, potassium salts of fatty acids, pyraclostrobin, | Bacillus pumilus, clove, rosemary and thyme oil, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen dioxide, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate, streptomyces lydicus, sulfur, |
| Viruses | imidacloprid, paraffinic oil, |
Southern Pea Insect Pests and Common Name of Insecticidal Controls
| INSECT | INSECTICIDE* | OMRI LISTED INSECTICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Aphid | Acephate, Acetamiprid, Bifenthrin, Dimethoate, Endosulfan, Gamma-cyhalothrin, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, Malathion, Methomyl, Methyl parathion, Naled, Petroleum oil, Phorate, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Pyrethrins, |
| Armyworm | Acephate, Carbaryl, Endosulfan, Esfenvalerate, Gamma-cyhalothrin, Lambdacyhalothrin, Methomyl, Spinetoram | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, Pyrethrins, Spinosad |
| Cutworm | Acephate, Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin, Diazinon, Esfenvalerate, Gamma-cyhalothrin, Lambdacyhalothrin, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis |
| Looper | Bifenthrin, Endosulfan , Fenpropathrin, Gamma-cyhalothrin, Lambdacyhalothrin, Methomyl, Naled, Spinetoram, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, Garlic Juice Extracts, Pyrethrins, Spinosad, |
Weeds and Common Name of Herbicidal Controls
| WEED | HERBICIDE* | OMRI LISTED HERBICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Preplant incorporated | Imazethapyr, Metam-potassium, Metam-sodium, Metolachlor, Pendimethalin, S-metolachlor, Trifluralin | Corn gluten meal |
| Preemergence (prior to spear emergence) | Clomazone, Ethalfluralin, Halosulfuron-methyl, Imazethapyr, oxyfluorfen, Pelargonic acid, | cinnamon and clove oil, clove oil, d-limonene |
| Postemergence | Carfentrazone-ethyl, clethodim, Fomesafen, Glyphosate, Imazamox, paraquat dichloride, Pyraflufen ethyl, Quizalofop P-ethyl, sethoxydim, |
* The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Ensure that products with one of the listed active ingredients is registered for the crop it is to be used on. Failure to do the above may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
** As stated in §205.206 of the National Organic Standards, pest management decisions should follow a hierarchical approach, which should be defined in a farm's organic systems plan. Please ensure that you have followed the appropriate steps and any product to be used in certified organic production systems has been approved by your certifying agent.
Harvest
| Days after planting | 65-80 days |
|---|---|
| Normal method | Hand: Green snap stage or dry seed Mechanical: depending on variety |
| Containers | Field baskets, bulk wagons |
| Grades | Free from defects, blemishes and insect stings |
| Packaging/Handling |
|
| Anticipated yield/acre | Dry - 600-800 lbs/acre Green - 900-2,000 lbs/acre (15-24 bushels) |
Transit Conditions
32°F at 95-98% RH; Shelf-life 1-2 weeks.Comments/Production Keys
- Winter rye crop prior to planting spring peas aids in reducing nematode problems
- Can be grown as a dry land crop but responds extremely well to irrigation in the form of increased yield and quality
- Best to use a seed inoculant (nitrogen-fixing bacteria), especially on new pea land
- Crop does not respond well to high nitrogen fertilization (increased vine growth and reduced pea yield can result)
- Wet cold conditions at or following planting induce seed rot and seedling damping off
- Frost causes pod injury
- Can be harvested as green snaps, green mature and dry
- Most fields are multiple harvested
- Three year crop rotation is suggested to reduce potential disease and insect problems
- Ship fresh peas under refrigerated conditions