Peas are a cool-season legume plant that produces edible green pods with round peas inside. They are grown worldwide and can be boiled, mashed, or added to dishes. Peas were historically a major cash crop in some US regions, and Wisconsin remains a popular place to grow them.
Peas refer to varieties of the legume species Pisum sativum, a cool-season annual plant usually sown in late spring or early autumn native to Southwest Asia. These pea varieties were among the first crops grown by humans and produce vibrant edible green pods that can be split open to reveal several round peas. These peas are grown worldwide in countries such as Ethiopia, China, India, Canada and Russia and have historically been major cash crops in some regions of the United States such as the Midwest. Most commercially produced peas are either destined for the dried pea market or sold as seed to gardeners. Common varieties include the snow pea, sugar, or pea and pea varieties.
Most pea varieties are plants with long, delicate vine stems that grow between 0 and 1.2 meters in height and are not self-supporting. It is common for the plant’s delicate tendrils to twine around other plants, branches, fences, and trellises for support. The leaves are usually green and round with some white and the small flowers from which the pea pods grow are commonly white or purple. Pea pods grow to about 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) long and contain between four and nine peas. Pea pods are often harvested at around 100 days old and taste best when the pods are fully grown, but the peas inside aren’t very big yet.
There are many ways to enjoy peas in cooking. Peas are an important source of iron, fiber and protein and can be easily stored immediately after harvesting by freezing. Peas can be boiled or mashed and buttered with salt or other spices while pods are often added to mix dishes. Pea soup is a common dish in many cuisines as are meat stews with peas. Additionally, many varieties, such as sugar or peas, can be consumed immediately off the vine.
Wisconsin was once America’s leading producer of peas in the early 20th century, and the crop remains popular with gardeners in the state. The state’s cool and humid summer and fall climate is ideal for growing peas. While some varieties are more heat tolerant, most prefer cool, frost-resistant soil. These peas are typically planted 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 centimeters) deep in single or double rows. The US states of Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, North Dakota and Idaho also produce large quantities of peas each year for use as both food and seed.
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