PLS 560 OG Shelling Pea

Organic PLS 560 OG Shelling Pea

The Organic PLS 560 OG Shelling Pea is an outstanding choice for gardeners seeking a productive and flavorful shelling pea. This variety features robust, strong-stemmed bush plants boasting blue-green foliage, making it both visually appealing and highly functional in the garden.

Key Features:

• Pod Size: Produces plump, 3½-inch long pods
• Peas per Pod: Contains 9-12 dark green, very tasty peas
• Harvest Ease: The abundance of tendrils makes harvesting simple and efficient

This shelling pea variety matures in just 60 days and is known for its high production rates, allowing gardeners to enjoy more peas with less effort.

Growing 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

Peas are a nutritious crop rich in phytonutrients and omega-3 fatty acids, improving soil quality by fixing nitrogen. They are particularly easy to grow in cool seasons and are high in vitamin C and niacin.

Cultural Practices:

• Peas thrive as a hardy cool-season crop suitable for various soil types
• Side dress with 1 cup of complete fertilizer and ½ cup of bone meal per 10 row feet
• Climbing varieties should be trellised; bush-type vines can be supported on a short trellis or allowed to grow as a mound
• Monitor for environmental stress, as prolonged heat or moisture deficiency can reduce yields
• Extend your harvest through multiple sowings

Direct Sowing:

• Sow peas as soon as the soil can be worked in spring
• Cool temperatures can lead to slow and erratic germination
• For fall crops, sow in July
• In mild climates, consider overwintering

Pest and Disease Management:

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

Harvesting and Storage:

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