Cover & Crops & Forages· Pisum sativum subsp. arvense

Field Pea Growing Guide

Cool-season annual legume used as a cover crop, green manure, and forage. Fixes 50-120 kg N/ha and produces high-protein biomass for livestock or soil improvement.

How Long Does Field Pea Take to Grow?

Field Pea is typically ready to harvest about 80 days after planting.

Days to Harvest

1,600

kg dry matter/hectare

moderate

Water Needs

full sun

Sun Needs

FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Production: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 13 October 2026. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL Licence: CC-BY-4.0.

Growing Conditions

Temperature

10-22°C optimal

Rainfall

350-900 mm/year

Frost Tolerance

moderate

Drought Tolerance

low

Humidity

moderate tolerance

Heat Tolerance

low

Soil Requirements

Soil Type & pH

Best soil types: loam, sandy loam, silt loam

pH range: 5.5 - 7 (optimal: 6.3)

Drainage: good

Nutrient Needs (N-P-K)

Nitrogen (N)low

Phosphorus (P)moderate

Potassium (K)moderate

Planting Guide

Planting Methods

drilling

Planting Depth

4 cm

Plant Spacing

5 cm apart, 18 cm rows

Planting Season

early spring, fall

Yield & Economics

Yield Range

300 - 5,780 kg dry matter/ha

Market Demand

growing

Profitability

low

Common Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

pea aphid
pea weevil
pea moth

Common Diseases

ascochyta blight
fusarium wilt
powdery mildew

Use AI crop disease detection to identify issues early and prevent crop losses.

Growing Tips

Inoculate seed with Rhizobium leguminosarum inoculant for reliable nitrogen fixation, especially in fields without recent pea history.

Plant early in spring — field peas thrive in cool weather and decline rapidly in heat above 30C.

Mix with oats or triticale to provide structural support for the vining pea plants and improve biomass quality for forage use.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Field Pea take to grow?

Field Pea typically takes 80 days from planting to harvest. Seeds germinate in about 7 days. The best planting season is early spring, fall.

What soil does Field Pea need?

Field Pea grows best in loam, sandy loam, silt loam soil with a pH of 5.5-7. Good drainage is required.

What temperature does Field Pea need?

Field Pea grows best at 10-22°C. Frost tolerance: moderate. Heat tolerance: low.

What is the expected yield for Field Pea?

Across 95 countries with grounded data, reported national yields for Field Pea range from 300 to 5,780 kg dry matter/hectare, with a median of 1,600. These are national statistics, not a best-case figure — an individual farm's yield depends on variety, climate, soil and management.