Field Pea (Austrian Winter Pea)

Field pea (Austrian winter pea) is the premier cool-season legume cover crop for the Gulf Coast and southeastern United States, providing rapid establishment, heavy nitrogen fixation, and excellent biomass production during the mild Gulf South winter when most cover crops struggle. Planted in fall, it overwinters as a cold-hardy vine, fixes 50–150 pounds of atmospheric nitrogen per acre, and produces 2–4 tons of organic matter per acre by the time it is terminated in spring — a nitrogen contribution equivalent to a full pre-plant fertilizer application that is released slowly as the biomass decomposes. The trailing vines suppress winter weeds effectively and the purple-pink flowers attract native bees in late winter and spring when few other plants are blooming; the tender vine tips are edible by humans, livestock, and wildlife. In zone 8–10, field peas can be planted as early as September for maximum winter biomass; terminate by mowing or rolling in spring 2–4 weeks before planting summer crops to allow nitrogen release. Спосіб посадки: Посів у відкритий ґрунт Відстань між рослинами: 2–4 дюймів Висота: 18–48 дюймів Дні до схожості: 7–14 Температура ґрунту для схожості: 4–18°C

Field pea (Austrian winter pea) is the premier cool-season legume cover crop for the Gulf Coast and southeastern United States, providing rapid establishment, heavy nitrogen fixation, and excellent biomass production during the mild Gulf South winter when most cover crops struggle. Planted in fall, it overwinters as a cold-hardy vine, fixes 50–150 pounds of atmospheric nitrogen per acre, and produces 2–4 tons of organic matter per acre by the time it is terminated in spring — a nitrogen contribution equivalent to a full pre-plant fertilizer application that is released slowly as the biomass decomposes. The trailing vines suppress winter weeds effectively and the purple-pink flowers attract native bees in late winter and spring when few other plants are blooming; the tender vine tips are edible by humans, livestock, and wildlife. In zone 8–10, field peas can be planted as early as September for maximum winter biomass; terminate by mowing or rolling in spring 2–4 weeks before planting summer crops to allow nitrogen release. Спосіб посадки: Посів у відкритий ґрунт Відстань між рослинами: 2–4 дюймів Висота: 18–48 дюймів Дні до схожості: 7–14 Температура ґрунту для схожості: 4–18°C --- Час посадки: -8–-4 тижнів від першого осіннього заморозка Direct sow 1–2 inches deep in fall 6–10 weeks before first frost, or in early spring 4–6 weeks before last frost; field pea requires cool soil (below 65°F) to germinate well and performs best as a fall-sown winter annual in the Gulf South.