Growing Peas in Pots & Containers at Home

Growing peas at home in containers is a simple, space-saving way to enjoy fresh, flavourful peas without needing a large garden or to plant in the ground. This method works well for those with limited outdoor space, such as a balcony, patio, or rooftop. Peas thrive in containers with minimal effort and don’t require lots of attention, making them an excellent choice for gardeners of all experience levels.

Peas are an absolute staple in British cuisine with the average person consuming over 10,000 peas annually whether garden peas, petit pois, or marrowfat. Despite being technically a fruit, we enjoy them as vegetables, much like tomatoes and peppers. Freshly harvested peas eaten the same day offer unparalleled sweetness and tenderness compared to store-bought options, making them a delight to grow at home.

This guide will walk you through growing peas from seed to harvest, providing everything you need to know for successful container gardening. Let’s begin!

Why Grow Peas at Home in Containers?

Peas grow exceptionally well in the British climate, and they require minimal space, attention, and effort, making them a forgiving choice for beginners or people without a lot of time. Container grown peas also crop quite well which means those people who may only have patio gardens or balconies can still produce a successful crop to enjoy.

The flavour of freshly picked peas far surpasses supermarket options which are grown for longevity rather than for flavour and nutrients. Homegrown peas are sweeter, more tender, and packed with nutrients like plant-based protein, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and potassium as well as phytonutrients, including carotenoids and flavanols, which protect our hearts and support cardiovascular function. They’re a heart-healthy superfood that’s best enjoyed fresh. You’ll soon forget about frozen peas. Take our word for it.

Choosing the Right Pea Varieties for Containers

When growing peas in containers, selecting the right variety is key. Most peas grow well in containers, but some varieties will easily grow to be over two metres in height, so some are definitely more suited to a limited growing space. Consider whether you prefer a low-maintenance dwarf variety or a climbing variety that will need support.

So, consider what you are looking for and then do your research on what peas you wish to grow. Maybe it’s all about flavour or size, or maybe you want a very low-maintenance variety that needs the least amount of effort during growing. Whatever the variety, it will be pea seeds you need, as these are especially for growing lovely pea plants. You can get these from any good garden centre.

However, there’s a few things worth noting first, so read ahead before starting anything.

Earlies vs. Maincrop Peas

Peas are classified as being either earlies or maincrops. Early varieties of peas are ready to harvest much sooner than maincrops, meaning maincrops will be growing for a good bit longer.

In terms of harvesting, Maincrops are typically harvested in late summer or early autumn. Early varieties are typically harvested from early to midsummer and are further divided into first earlies and second earlies.  First early varieties are of course first to harvest, while second earlies follow on a few weeks later.

Whatever variety you wish to grow just be sure of their specific type, when to sow, when to harvest, and any individual needs or characteristics they may have.

If your containers are being grown indoors, you may be able to plant sooner and therefore the plants get to crop that little bit quicker. Generally, though, it’ll be roughly the same.

• Earlies: These mature quickly (about 12 to 14 weeks) and are harvested in early to midsummer. Subcategories include first and second earlies, with first earlies being ready sooner in the growing season, and second earlies following within a few weeks.
• Maincrops: These take longer to mature (16 weeks) and are harvested in late summer or early autumn.

Dwarf vs. Climbing Varieties

Besides earlies and maincrop peas, you also have some other groups of peas to consider broadly; dwarf vs climbing. They are all grown much the same way barring a few considerations. However, dwarf varieties may be better for growing at home in containers or pots. Climbers can grow to well over 2 metres in height. Dwarf varieties might only grow to be 1 metre tall by comparison, and they will still produce lots of lovely peas, without dominating your space.

• Dwarf peas grow 1 metre tall and are ideal for small spaces or containers.
• Climbing peas can exceed 2 metres and need trellises or supports.

General Sowing and Harvesting Timescale for Peas

When it comes to sowing and planting pea seeds you will generally sow in February or March depending on the conditions. Since you are using containers, you can start off growing indoors, which in turn means you will be able to start in February because indoor conditions will be better generally. Then you can move your pots outdoors when the weather outside improves.

Depending on the variety, they will be ready for harvest sometime from June, possibly even May, through to October. Some varieties will produce over the entire season, whereas others you will have to sow again, which you can do up until early July.

The Guide – How to Grow Peas in Pots & Containers

Now you know more about peas you’re ready to get started growing your own peas in pots and containers at home. It pays to know what to do in advance so read through our guide fully.

What You’ll Need

• Pea seeds (choose your preferred variety – see our recommendations further down)
• Containers or pots (at least 20 cm deep with drainage holes)
• Compost (multi-purpose vegetable compost)
• Fertiliser (high-potash, e.g., tomato feed)
• Supports (trellises, bamboo canes, or netting for climbing varieties)
• Sunny spot (for optimal growth and pod development)

Consider how many plants you would like to grow. For instance, a 20cm pot with a good depth could probably allow about three to five pea seeds to grow. Maybe you’d like two or three pots to have a bountiful harvest and so you can grow different varieties? Ensure the containers or pots have good drainage as waterlogged soil will affect their growth and probably see them fail.

Sowing Pea Seeds

1. Fill containers with compost, leaving room for watering.
2. Sow seeds 5 cm apart and cover lightly with compost.
3. Water gently but avoid over-saturating.
4. Start indoors if sowing early (February/March) and move outdoors after the last frost.

Try to find a balance between the number of peas you can grow while giving them enough space to grow. If it looks too crowded it probably is. Try about 5cm apart to start off. Once done, cover with a thin layer of compost and give them a water.

Please note, peas do not like to be sown into cold or wet soil, which would be a problem outdoors. However, we assume everyone reading will start off indoors, at least in the beginning. When they are established and when the frosts have passed, they can be moved outdoors.

Caring for Your Plants

• Water regularly, especially during flowering, but avoid waterlogging.
• Provide climbing supports for taller varieties.
• Feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser after flowering begins.

Your pea seedlings should appear within two weeks of planting. Water the plants after this period and when you see them start to flower.

If you opted for climbing pea varieties, they will need supports in place while they are still young to help them scramble up and grow. This support can come in the form of a trellis, bamboo canes, wire or netting.

If you opted for smaller dwarf varieties, then chances are they won’t need any supports, but will probably appreciate it! This can be done with pea netting or pea sticks. Not all will need support, but it will probably help their development, so they are not leaning over themselves.

After flowering, the plants need sufficient water for the pods to swell. Check the soil moisture regularly and water if needed without overloading them. Because you are growing in containers, they will need to be watered consistently and regularly, more so than growing outdoors in the ground where moisture can be drawn up from the soil. If you are growing entirely indoors you may need to water more frequently, depending on the ambient temperatures.

After the flowering stage, feed weekly with your fertiliser to ensure they have a plentiful supply of nutrients to produce lots of amazing peas in your containers.

Harvesting and Storing

• Harvest peas when pods are plump and swollen. Start picking from the bottom upwards to encourage further production.
• For the best flavour, consume peas immediately. Alternatively, store them in the fridge for up to a week or freeze them for longer storage.

Depending on your variety of peas and the type they are, they’ll be ready to harvest when the pods are visibly swollen with peas. Keep a note in your diary of how long your chosen variety should take to be ready (remember if they are early or maincrop) and then harvest around this time.

Top tip: pick the pods from the bottom of the plant upwards, as generally the lower the pod then the more mature they are. Try to be gentle and avoid damaging the plant itself as many will continue to produce for a while so long as the care and conditions are right. Pick regularly otherwise new pods won’t form.

Once harvested from your containers or pots, consume promptly for the best flavour. They can be eaten raw and will be utterly delicious and sweet.

Recommended Varieties

If you thought garden peas, petit pois, and marrowfat (among others) are all just single varieties and that’s it, then you’d be wrong! It is all you see in supermarkets. But this hides the number of pea varieties that are actually grown quite commonly. The Romans alone grew almost 40 varieties of peas. We’ve become a nation of efficiency rather than variety, and that’s no bad thing, but the differences in flavour and freshness make it worth trying to grow your own alone. This list below is just a small selection of the many varieties of pea you can choose:

Common Problems and Solutions

• Watering Issues: Ensure consistent watering to prevent drought stress and diseases like powdery mildew.
• Birds and Pests: Use netting to protect plants from birds and insects like pea moths.
• Support Needs: Even dwarf varieties benefit from light support to prevent sagging.

Enjoy Your Homegrown Peas!

And there you have it, now you can grow your own plentiful crop of peas at home in pots and containers. These offer a lot of versatility and mean that anyone, not just those with a large enough garden can get to growing their own fruit and veggies at home. Why not try sowing a pot or two this year and see how it goes? We advise you to try some of the peas raw as soon as they are ready for picking, they’ll be delicious!