Maestro Shelling Pea

Maestro Shelling Pea

The Maestro Shelling Pea is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a productive and flavorful variety. With a quick maturity of 60 days, this pea grows up to 22 inches tall and is designed for multiple harvests. The pods are easy to spot on the plant, making it simple to identify when they are ready for picking.

Key Features:

• Pod Size: Long, thin pods containing 8-9 medium-sized peas
• Flavor Profile: Sweet and tender
• Yield: High yielding with multiple pickings possible

Peas are not only delicious but also nutritious, providing phytonutrients and omega-3 fatty acids. They improve soil health by fixing nitrogen, benefiting future crops. Especially easy to grow in cool seasons, Maestro peas are a perfect addition to any vegetable garden.

Sowing Information:

• Soil Temperature for Germination: 45–75°F
• Seed Depth: 1–1.5 inches
• Seed Spacing: 1 inch
• Days to Emergence: 8–25 days
• Row Spacing: 18–24 inches
• Fertilizer Needs: Low
• Minimum Germination Rate: 80%
• Seeds per Ounce: Approximately 90–165
• Seed Life: 2 years

Growing Tips:

• Peas thrive in a variety of soil types and prefer cooler temperatures
• Side dress with 1 cup of complete fertilizer and ½ cup of bone meal per 10 row feet
• Trellis climbing varieties for support; bush-type vines can be grown as mounds
• Monitor for environmental stress, such as hot weather or moisture deficiency, which can reduce yields
• Extend your harvest by making multiple sowings throughout the season

Direct Sowing:

• Sow as soon as the soil can be worked in spring
• Cool temperatures can result in slow germination
• For a fall crop, sow in July
• In mild climates, consider overwintering

Pest and Disease Management:

• Common Insects: Pea aphids; apply pyrethrin if leaf scalloping occurs
• Common Diseases: Fusarium wilt, powdery and downy mildews, and pea enation mosaic virus; control with neem oil and practice crop rotation every 3–4 years

Harvesting and Storage:

• Check for maturity as soon as the pods begin to swell
• Harvest frequently to promote continuous production; overripe peas can become starchy and tough
• Store at 36°F with 95% humidity for optimal preservation