Land Preparation

Prepare a level seedbed free of weeds and clods. Avoid wet spots. Additional fertilizer typically is not required, especially on vegetable land.

Seeding Rate

140 lb/ac or 120 lb/ac plus 20 lb/ac oats or 50 lb/ac plus 100 lb/ac oats plus 30 lb/ac vetch. A combination of peas, hairy vetch, and oats provides ground cover and suppresses weeds throughout the growing season. The peas use the oats as trellises. Vetch grows until frost and provides winter cover.

Seed Cost

2007 price: $0.50/lb

Seeding Dates

March-April. Plant as early as possible with a nurse crop, such as oats. Possibly plant with oats in late summer for winter cover. Nitrogen from the peas will aid the growth of the oats, which will frost kill and give ground cover over the winter.

Time Until Control

With nurse crop-6-8 weeks.

Seed Suppliers

Local farm seed dealers. Trapper is a common field pea variety.

Management Tricks

Plant as early as possible with a nurse crop.Harvest for haylage when nurse grain is in the boot stage.Possibly plant in late Summer as well. Nitrogen from the peas will aid the growth of the Oats, which will frost kill and give ground cover over the winter.

Unavoidable Problems

Weak in wet spots.

Avoidable Problems

Slow to establish, use nurse crop, e.g. oats.

Classic Uses

Nitrogen fixation. Early forage crop.

Maintenance

None.

Control

Mow and incorporate to improve organic matter. Wait 1-2 weeks between incorporation and replanting to prevent nutrient tie-up that results in inhibition of the following crop.

Tips

Peas are susceptible to a wide range of root-rot organisms. Avoid a close rotation with another legume crop. An option is to harvest for haylage when the nurse crop is in the boot stage, but most of the nitrogen will be removed.