'Little Marvel' is an heirloom favorite for its sweet, tender peas and high-yielding, compact plants. Perfect for smaller garden spaces, this variety thrives in both spring and fall. Short vines that do not require support will produce an abundance of 3"–4" long pods with 6–7 peas in each. Ideal for fresh eating or freezing. With an extended picking period, you'll enjoy these classic garden peas throughout the season.
Days to Maturity: 55 - 60 days
Family: Fabaceae
Type: Shelling Pea
Native: Western Asia, Europe, and North Africa
Hardiness: Frost-tolerant annual
Exposure: Full Sun
Plant Dimensions: 18"–24" tall
Variety Info: 3-4" long pods containing 6-7 dark green peas.
Attributes: Frost Tolerant
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 40°F, ideally 60°–80°F, and again 10 to 12 weeks before your average first frost date. In mild climates, sow in fall or winter for winter harvest. Best grown in temperatures less than 85°F.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended.
Days to Emerge: 5 – 10 Days
Seed Depth: 1"
Seed Spacing: 2"
Row Spacing: 18"
Thinning: Not required
Harvesting: Shelling peas should be harvested when the pods are plump, about 3 weeks after flowering. Peas that are too mature are tough and will cause the plant to stop producing; therefore, harvest regularly when pods are at their peak. Use scissors to harvest or hold vine with one hand and pick the pods with the other; vines are fragile.
Special Care: Supporting even short vines on a short fence or trellis makes harvesting easier. Peas may also be grown in mounds on the ground. If grown on mounds, row spacing should be increased to 24"–36". Roots must stay cool; when temperatures begin to warm, mulch soil surface to keep them cool. Powdery mildew looks like a white powder on leaves, and thrives in weather with high relative humidity and cool nights. Reduce chances of this disease by watering only in the morning and during the day. Keep leaves dry; do not water plants overhead. Provide good air circulation by proper plant spacing. Do not compost diseased plants; spores may over-winter and re-infect crops the following season. Powdery mildew is more common in the fall and choosing a resistant pea variety for fall sowing further reduces the likelihood of infection.
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