The pea is most commonly the small spherical seed or the seed-pod of the pod fruit Pisumsativum. Each pod contains several peas. Pea pods are botanically fruit, since they contain seeds and developed from the ovary of a flower
A pea is a most commonly green, occasionally golden yellow, or infrequently purple pod-shaped vegetable, widely grown as a cool season vegetable crop. The seeds may be planted as soon as the soil temperature reaches 10 °C (50 °F), with the plants growing best at temperatures of 13 to 18 °C (55 to 64 °F). 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. Many cultivars reach maturity about 60 days after planting.
Peas have both low-growing and vining cultivars. The vining cultivars grow thin tendrils from leaves that coil around any available support and can climb to be 1–2 m high. A traditional approach to supporting climbing peas is to thrust branches pruned from trees or other woody plants upright into the soil, providing a lattice for the peas to climb. Branches used in this fashion are sometimes called pea brush. Metal fences, twine, or netting supported by a frame are used for the same purpose. In dense plantings, peas give each other some measure of mutual support. Pea plants can self-pollinate
Sweet, delicious green peas, also popular as garden peas, are one of the ancient cultivated vegetables grown for their delicious, nutritious green seeds. Peas probably have originated in the sub-Himalayan plains of northwest India. Today, this versatile legume is one of the major commercial crops grown all over the temperate, and semi-tropical regions.
Botanically, pea plant is a herbaceous vine. It belongs to the family of Fabaceae, in the genus: Pisum. Scientific name: Pisumsativum. Some of the common names include English peas, sweet peas, garden peas, pease,…etc.
Pea is a quick growing, an annual herbaceous vine which requires the trellis to support its growth. It flourishes in well-drained, sandy soil supplemented with adequate moisture and cold weather conditions. Short-stalked, green pods appear by late winter or early spring. Each pod measures about 2-3 inches long, swollen or compressed, straight or slightly curved, filled with a single row of 2-10, light-green, smooth edible seeds.
In general, the pods harvested while just short of reaching maturity, at the point when their seeds are green, soft, sweet and edible raw. Allowing the pods to mature further would turn seeds dry, light-green to yellow, less sweet, and bitter to taste.
Pea tendrils are also edible delicacies. They are delicate, tender top shoots of a young pea plant. Pea tendrils have a flavor akin to peas. The tendrils and leafy shoots are one of favored item in salads and cooking in many East and South-east Asian regions.
Snow peas or sugar snap peas are different species of peas wherein whole immature green pod, including its outer peel, can be eaten as a vegetable.