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Peas  Peas are one of the most important vegetables Zimbabweans can grow for export.  They are legumes  Legumes fix Nitrogen  IMPORTANCE OF PEAS  Peas have a lot of health benefits for human consumption.  They can be eaten raw or added to a variety of dishes  Peas have vitamins and antioxidants.  They are good for heart performance.  They are good for dealing with high blood pressure.  They have a very high protein content VARIETIES  Some of the common varieties to grow are Snowbird, Sabre, Serge, Alaska, Greenfeast and Recruit  Varieties are also called cultivars FAVOURABLE CLIMATE  Peas prefer cold conditions to grow well.  Temperatures of 22 degrees or below (starting at 13 degrees Celsius) are the best for peas farming.  The best temperature is 22 degrees Celsius.  Extremely hot temperatures will lead to lack of growth or hard pods. SOIL REQUIREMENTS  Soil should be fertile.  The soil should have good drainage.  Soil pH must be in the range of 6 to 7.5.  The best soil type is sandy loam – clay soils can also cut it  The soil should be deep LAND PREPARATION  Land preparation includes the following  Dig or plough to aerate the soil and improve drainage  Harrow to break the clods (big lumps)  Make ridges to keep water within the bed  level the bed to ensure equal water distribution SOWING AND PLANTING  Seeds must be sown about 2 to 3 centimeters into the ground  The germination process takes place within at most 1 week.  When sowing seeds, the in-row spacing should be 5 – 10 centimeters whereas the inter-row spacing should be 25 centimeters. Management Practices  Watering is necessary but does not overdo it – water depending on the state of the pea plants.  Generally, peas do not require lots of water.  WEEDING - Weeding should be done occasionally as informed by the state of the field.  MULCHING – to conserve soil moisture  PEST CONTROL – to protect crops from damage  DISEASE CONTROL – to protect crops from damage  TRELLISING – to support indeterminate varieties PEST, DISEASE AND WEED CONTROL  Aphids, beetles, leaf weevils, nematodes, and leaf miners are some of the common pests to look out for.  Powdery and Downey mildew, fusarium wilt are some of the common diseases to look out for.  As much as you can use chemical methods to deal with pests, diseases and weeds you can still use biological and cultural control methods.  Most of the pests and diseases that affect peas can be dealt with by usingcultural methods like weed control.  getting rid of affected plants and plant debris can control pest and diseases control. | Quizalize