Ok, so I have a site picked out for the peas (they're snap peas). It's in full sun, with well-draining soil, and tons of worms. I'm going to mix in 2-4 inches of compost, and plant them 2 inches apart.

I really want them to be a success, but this is my first year trying them. In your experience, are peas an easy crop to grow, or are they a bit fussy? And should I realistically expect a harvest by summertime? I saw a bunch of sites and articles that stated it was a crop that's harvest in springtime, but with how my climate is, my crops always seem to be ready a bit later than they're supposed to be.

Thanks so much, and any help/info is appreciated!

Easy easy!
I find them easy. I plant by some locally recommended date and ignore, unless they need water.
Dillard or other may chime in.
I seem to recall him saying start them with some fertilizer.

I've found them quite easy to grow; I'm not sure how the wild temperature swings that you seem to get will affect them, though, Johannian . (Plant earlier rather than later - they don't mind cool soil.)

I was reading an article about Nyctinastic Plants. Very interesting.
There are many plants that are nyctinastic like Legumes closing up leaves at night, more include:
Beans, Peas,Clover,Vetch,Alfalfa,Cowpeas…

Thanks for the info, guys. Guess I'll just plant them and see how it goes. No need to sweat it. I've had bad results in the past with melons, so I didn't want to ruin these peas as I've done with melons in our native soil.

Totally different beast.
I haven't grown a good melon either.

https://lofthouse.com/adaptiva...
Joseph Lofthouse grows a lot of stuff out your way that really pushes the margins... You may want to have a look at the seed he's developed...

As far as Spring peas?
Should be a natural for your garden... If you are able to protect from critters.
Everything eats pea plants....
So... One year I built a box and stapled poultry wire to it 4 foot in height and was able to keep the rabbits out... And the peas did fine... But, picking was difficult....

And... If you don't already have a deer proof garden? Forget it.

Yup.
I think about just eating pea leaves Instead of waiting for pea pods. But then I don't do it, lol.

Nitrogen!
I just read thru my garden notes and found where Dillard said early peas need nitrogen because of cool soil ( the organic sources from soil biology are less active/ slow?)

Peas are easy to grow in cool weather.
Keeping critters and birds away is the hard part for me.
I have heard that adding fertilizer when sowing into cold soil is a good idea.

Good fences definitely make good "neighbors," especially when those neighbors have 4 legs. I don't seem to have the problem with birds in the garden that other people experience, despite there being lots of birds around all the time. Robins really do like blueberries, though!

stone said: If you don't already have a deer proof garden? Forget it.

Peas are irresistible to stupid deer and rabbits. You'll need a good tall fence lined with chicken wire at the bottom.

Thanks for the info, guys! It helps a lot. I figured critters would be a problem, so I set up a fence already. My garden was ravaged by deer three times last year; not gonna happen again!

Until they start mocking you..

Of yeah… Giant "Trouble makers". Each new mom brings her baby doe's every spring…it's a deer family route passed down from each generation.

Sandy, that picture is just

Yup, happens here too, Bea. Honestly I don't care if she brings them around to eat the bread and stuff that we put out, just…leave the stinkin' garden alone for goodness sake.

Johannian The deer think the garden plants is a salad bar just for them.

Ha, of course they do, and I know you can't blame them; they're just dumb animals. So, it's up to me to keep 'em out.

When you do a fence you will need to do a two layer approach to stymie them. One fence taller than the other and possibly even plants in between to throw them off as well. Deer can't judge distance and height very well when there's two fences and other things to throw their senses off.

sallyg said: Totally different beast.
I haven't grown a good melon either.

Try a Mango Melon. I can't grow any melon where I am, but I can grow those