CHARACTERISTICS
- The pea is a hardy leafy plant with hollow stems that reach up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) in length
- The stems feature tendrils with leaves with three pairs of leaflets
- The fruit is a pod that grows to 10 cm (4 inches) long
- Inside the pod, 5 to 10 seeds are attached by short stalks
- The seeds are green, yellow, or white
ORIGINS
The pea is one of the oldest cultivated crops. The wild plant is native to the Mediterranean region, and ancient remains dating to the late Neolithic Period have been found in the Middle East.
Pea Plant Growth Stages, and Development
The four pea plant growth stages are: Germination, Vegetative, Reproductive, Senescence (Mature)
Development - These plants do not need much space. You can plant them anywhere from 1 to 3 inches apart, and they will develop shallow roots. Pea plants do not like very heavy clay soil. On top of that, they need frequent watering throughout their life cycle.
THREATS
- Under watering and excessive heat can stress the plant to the point of termination
- Overwatering can rot the roots
- Fungal diseases
- Humidity and moisture buildup lead to leaf diseases like powdery mildew
- Wind damage or other environmental disasters (storms, floods, etc)
FUN FACTS and STATISTICS
- Wild peas can still be found in Afghanistan, Iran, and Ethiopia.
- European colonization introduced the crop to the New World and other regions throughout the globe.
- They do not thrive in the summer heat of warmer temperate and lowland tropical climates, but do grow well in cooler, high altitude, tropical areas.
- There are only 81 calories in 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of peas.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS
- Very good source of vitamin K, dietary fiber, vitamin B1, copper, vitamin C, phosphorus, vitamin B6, vitamin B2, zinc, protein, magnesium, iron, potassium.
- Health benefits of peas include anti-aging, strong immune system, high energy, prevention of wrinkles, arthritis, bronchitis, healthy bones, blood sugar regulation, heart disease prevention, reduces bad cholesterol and stomach cancer prevention.
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 medium red onion finely chopped
1 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger
4 medium garlic cloves finely chopped
1 tbsp sweet paprika
1 tbsp ground turmeric
1 tbsp garam masala
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 1/2 lbs russet potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
14 1/2 oz canned diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups frozen peas thawed
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
LITERATURE CITED
- Jay. “Pea Plant Growth Stages, Development, and Life Cycle.” GFL Outdoors, 3 Feb. 2022, https://www.gfloutdoors.com/pea-plant-growth-stages-development-and-life-cycle
- About The Author admin More from this Author, et al. “Interesting Facts about Peas: Just Fun Facts.” Just Fun Facts | Fun and Interesting Site, 23 June 2020, https://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-peas
BY: Andrew Burke
Credits:
Created with images by Sea Wave - "Green peas" • supamas - "Green peas isolated on white" • fydorov - "Green peas panorama" • Iurii Kachkovskyi - "close up of green peas" • barmalini - "English garden peas plants, ripe yellow pod with shine through peas close up" • ruslan_khismatov - "The pea shoots in rows on garden beds in the vegetable field. Cultivation of vegetables. Agriculture. Gardening in the summer house in the spring and summer season. " • Arundhati - "Mix vegetable curry - Indian main course recipe contains Carrots, cauliflower, green peas and beans, baby corn, capsicum and paneer/cottage cheese with traditional masala and curry, selective focus"