Austrian Winter Peas (Pisum sativum subsp. arvense) are low maintenance and easy to grow. Broadcast the seeds in your garden in late summer, early fall, or early spring. Water the area and rake the seeds lightly into the soil. Austrian Winter Peas prefer well-drained soils. This annual cover crop is ideal for winter planting and has a remarkable hardiness down to 0°F.
For optimal coverage, sow Austrian Winter Peas at a rate of ½ – 1 ½ lb per 500 sq ft. They pair exceptionally well with annual rye, ideally in a ratio of 1 lb peas to 4 lbs rye, for enhanced soil improvement and weed suppression.
Not only do Austrian Winter Peas contribute to soil health and fertility, but they also offer a culinary bonus as a great edible cover crop. The tender tendrils and growing tips can be snipped off for fresh additions to salads, providing both nutritional and aesthetic benefits.
For the best soil enrichment and to prevent reseeding, you should mow or cut down the plants in the spring when at least 50% of the plants have flowered. If they’re allowed to fully flower and go to seed, they’ll redirect nitrogen from the plant body to seed production instead of into the soil. Chop or mow – allowing the plant debris to stay on the surface as mulch and decompose naturally, or till them into the soil to release their stored nutrients.
Austrian Winter Pea is an excellent addition to any garden. If you plant this versatile cover crop, you’ll enjoy a more fertile, healthier garden, with the added benefit of a lovely floral display that delights pollinators.
1 lB. $5 5 LB. $20