Planting Methods
Because pea seed germinates in relatively cool soil (as low as 40°F), planting can begin in late March or early April and continue until May 15 to 20. Hot, dry conditions in July adversely affect yield, so it is advantageous to have the crop mature as early as planting schedules allow.

Caution. Peas are very sensitive to atrazine residues. Do not plant in fields where more than one pound of atrazine was applied the previous year.

Plant at a uniform depth of no more than one inch unless the soil is exceptionally dry. Rolling or cultipacking the soil after planting will firm the ground and push stones into the soil, which facilitates machine harvest. Attaching the roller behind the drill eliminates an additional set of tractor wheel marks and too much soil compaction on some rows of planted peas.

In general, seed should not be inoculated with symbiotic bacteria that fix nitrogen. The application of nitrogen fertilizers and the presence of the bacteria in soil from previous pea crops make it a questionable practice. Fields with no history of peas in the rotation may benefit from inoculation, particularly if the nitrogen application is low.

Because seed size varies greatly between varieties, seeding rate must be adjusted accordingly. See Table 22.1, Table 22.2.

Table 22.1 Recommended spacing
Type	Row (plants/yard)	In-row (inches)
Processing
Early	18-22	7
Late	16-18
Fresh	18-20	32-36

Table 22.2 Approximate number of seeds to drop to obtain 16 to 22 plants per yard of row when laboratory germination is as indicated.
	Laboratory germination (percent)
	100	95	90	85	80	85
Plants/yard	Number of seeds to drop per yard of row
16	16	17	18	19	20	21
17	17	18	19	20	22	23
18	18	19	20	22	23	24
19	19	20	22	23	24	26
20	20	22	23	24	25	27
21	21	23	24	25	27	28
22	22	24	25	26	28	30

Crop rotation and disease management article

Fertility
Maintain a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Do not apply fertilizer in the seeded row as salt injury will occur. See Table 22.4 for the recommended rates of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Cornell cover crop decision tool

See Cornell article on nutrient deficiency symptoms

Go to Cornell Nutrient Analysis Lab website to find out how to get soil samples tested.

Cornell Soil Health website and manual

SARE Publication: "Building Soils for Better Crops"

SARE publication: "Managing Cover Crops Profitably"

Harvesting

Intact pea pods serve as controlled, atmospheric storages that maintain quality for about one week at 32°F and 90 to 95 percent relative humidity. Once shelled, quality deteriorates rapidly. For this reason, processing peas, which are shelled in the field, must be transported quickly to the processing facility.

See UC Davis post harvest guide for peas

See Cornell Report: Food Safety Begins on the Farm

See Cornell "Smart Marketing" series.

See USDA grade standards for fresh peas and processed peas

See USDA Marketing site

See current wholesale prices from US markets

SARE Publication: "Marketing Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers"

SARE Publication: "Direct Marketing Resource Guide"

Table 22.4 Recommended nutrients based on soil tests.
N pounds/acre	P2O5 pounds/acre				K2O pounds/acre			Comments
	Soil Phosphorus Level				Soil Potassium Level
	low	med.	high		low	med.	high
40-50	100	75	50		120	80	40	Total recommended.
40-50	100	75	50		120	80	40	Broadcast and disk-in or drill deep and mix into the soil.

SARE Publication: "A Whole-Farm Approach to Managing Pests"

Check NYS PIMS (Product, Ingredient, and Manufacturer System) to see if the label is current for New York. SPECIAL NEW YORK RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY. (http://magritte.psur.cornell.edu/pims/)

Penn State pea disease fact sheet

Time for concern: Planting to harvest when the soil temperature exceeds 68°F

Key characteristics: Fusarium wilt causes the downward curling of leaves and stipules. Leaves and stems become brittle. Yellow to orange discoloration also occurs within the vascular tissue of roots and stems. See Reference 1.

Management Option	Recommendation
Scouting/thresholds	Soil can be indexed using a simple and visual grow out test for diagnosing severely infested fields.
Resistant varieties	Several races of this disease exist. Check with seed companies about variety resistance.
Crop rotation	This fungus may remain in the soil for ten years, making rotation relatively ineffective. Crop rotation and disease management article Cornell Forage Species Selection Tool
Site selection	Plant in the earliest workable fields, so the crop develops during the period of the growing season when the soil temperature is below the optimum temperature for wilt development (68°F through 72°F). SARE Publication: "Building Soils for Better Crops" SARE publication: "Managing Cover Crops Profitably"
Seed selection/treatment, Postharvest, and Sanitation	These are not currently viable management options.
Compound(s)	No pesticides are available to manage Fusarium wilt.

Penn State pea blight fact sheet

Time for concern: Seedling through harvest

Key characteristics: Ascochyta spp. causes leaf lesions with concentric ring patterns. See Reference 1.

Management Option	Recommendation
Scouting/thresholds	Record the occurrence and severity of Ascochyta leaf spot. No thresholds have been established.
Resistant varieties	No resistant varieties are available.
Crop rotation	Two- to three-year rotation is effective in reducing soil inoculum source and disease severity. Crop rotation and disease management article Cornell Forage Species Selection Tool
Seed selection/treatment	Purchase vigorous and fungicide treated seed. In the absence of seed treatments, pea seed should be held for one year to reduce pathogen level to one-third its previous level.
Postharvest	If possible disk and plow under crop debris immediately after harvest to reduce this source of inoculum.
Site selection and Sanitation	These are not currently viable management options.

Compound(s)
Comparing Environmental Risks of Pesticides In the "Field Use EIQ" column is the range of EIQ (Environmental Impact Quotient) values for the rate range recommended for each pesticide (lower EIQ = lower environmental impact). Other pesticide risk models are useful for specific purposes. WIN-PST is required for some USDA NRCS conservation plans.
Common name Trade Name	Rate/A Product	PHI (days)	REI (hours)	Field Use EIQ	Comments
boscalid
Endura DF	8-11 oz	7	12	15-25	For optimal disease control begin applicatioins prior to disease development. Do not make more than 2 applications per season to limit potential for development of resistance.
pyraclostrobin
Headline EC	6-9 fl oz	7	12		No aerial application in NYS. Do not make more than 1 application of Headline or other strobilurin fungicides before alternating to a labeled non-Group 11 fungicide with a different mode of action. Do not apply more than 18 fl oz per season.
*Restricted use only.

Check NYS PIMS (Product, Ingredient, and Manufacturer System) to see if the label is current for New York. SPECIAL NEW YORK RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY. (http://magritte.psur.cornell.edu/pims/)

Insect Management
  | Seedcorn maggot | Slugs |

SARE Publication: "Manage Insects on Your Farm: A Guide to Ecological Strategies"

SARE Publication: "A Whole-Farm Approach to Managing Pests"

Seedcorn maggot, Delia platura

See pictures of SCM life cycle

Time for concern: At planting
Key characteristics: Adult flies are slender, 1/4 inch long, and grayish black in color. Maggots are yellowish white. Infested seeds and other plant parts are hollowed out. Damaged plants are weak and may not develop. See Reference 2.

Management Option	Recommendation
Scouting/thresholds	Record the occurrence and severity of seedcorn maggot damage. No thresholds have been established.
Natural enemies	Predators, parasitoids, and pathogens, including nematodes, help suppress infestations. Use Reference 3 for identification of natural enemies. Entomophthora muscae, Steinernema carpocapsae Michigan State site "Enhancing Beneficial Insects with Native Plants" ATTRA publication: "Farmscaping to enhance biological control"
Resistant varieties	No resistant varieties are available.
Site selection	Root maggots prefer soil with high organic matter. Incorporate crop residues well before planting. Do not spread manure directly before planting.
Seed selection/treatment	Purchase seed that has been treated with a fungicide, such as Apron, captan, or thiram, and then treat with an insecticide.
Insecticide Resistance Management	A classification of insecticides based on their mode of action is available in pdf format. This guide can be used to help avoid or delay the development of insecticide resistance, as well as manage populations that have developed resistance to a particular insecticide. It is a large file - 97 page, 780k pdf file  Shelton, A.M., W.T. Wilsey, and D. M. Soderlund. 2001. Classification of insecticides and acaracides for resistance management
Crop rotation, Postharvest, and Sanitation	These are not currently viable management options.

Compound(s)
Comparing Environmental Risks of Pesticides In the "Field Use EIQ" column is the range of EIQ (Environmental Impact Quotient) values for the rate range recommended for each pesticide (lower EIQ = lower environmental impact). Other pesticide risk models are useful for specific purposes. WIN-PST is required for some USDA NRCS conservation plans.
Common name Trade Name	Rate/A Product	PHI (days)	REI (hours)	Field Use EIQ	Comments
thiamethoxam
Cruiser 5FS (seed treatment) 5 lb/gal	1.28 fl oz/100 lbs of seed	-	-	-	Seed must be treated commercially and purchased outside of New York.
*Restricted use only.

Check NYS PIMS (Product, Ingredient, and Manufacturer System) to see if the label is current for New York. SPECIAL NEW YORK RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY. (http://magritte.psur.cornell.edu/pims/)

See pictures of slug life cycle

See pictures of slug damage

Time of concern: Early spring and fall

Key characteristics: Adult slugs are between one and two inches in length. Slugs can overwinter at any stage of development. Although slugs cannot survive prolonged subzero temperatures or desiccation, the burrows of small mammals and worms provide insulation. Slugs begin to move, hatch, feed, and lay eggs in the spring when temperatures are consistently above 40°F. There is often little or no slug activity in the field during periods of dry weather; however, there may be extensive feeding in damp areas.

Management Option	Recommendation
Scouting/thresholds	Record the occurance and severity of slug damage. No thresholds have been established.
Resistant varieties	No resistant varieties are available.
Site selection/ planting, Crop rotation Postharvest, and Sanitation	Practices that help dry the soil surface (e.g. conventional tillage and good weed control) will reduce slug populations.

Compound(s)
Comparing Environmental Risks of Pesticides In the "Field Use EIQ" column is the range of EIQ (Environmental Impact Quotient) values for the rate range recommended for each pesticide (lower EIQ = lower environmental impact). Other pesticide risk models are useful for specific purposes. WIN-PST is required for some USDA NRCS conservation plans.
Common name Trade Name	Rate/A Product	PHI (days)	REI (hours)	Field Use EIQ	Comments
metaldehyde
Deadline Bullets	20-40 lbs	-	12	13-27	SEE LABEL FOR DETAILS

Check NYS PIMS (Product, Ingredient, and Manufacturer System) to see if the label is current for New York. SPECIAL NEW YORK RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY. (http://magritte.psur.cornell.edu/pims/)

Weed Management

Key characteristics: Weed fact sheets provide a good reference for common weed identification. See Reference 4. Also see Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide.

Cornell Weed Ecology and Management Laboratory website

Ontario, Canada weed identification gallery

Penn State Weed Fact Sheets

SARE Publication: "A Whole-Farm Approach to Managing Pests"

Management Option	Recommendation
Scouting/thresholds	Weeds may be unevenly distributed over a field. Localized areas of severe weed infestations or atypical conditions, such as poorly drained areas, high spots, and field edges, may be recorded on a weed map. A weed map should be on file for each field. Make a rough sketch of the field, including landmarks, boundaries, crop row direction, compass directions, roads, planting date, map preparation date, and any other important details. The following information should be indicated on the map: species of weed, size of weed, density of each species, and distribution of weed. Scout fields two to three weeks after planting to evaluate the success of the current season's program and at or near harvest to help predict weed control practices that will be necessary for the following year. Cornell Weed Assessment List (scouting form) Manitoba, Canada weed scouting guide
Site selection	Refer to weed maps to avoid problem weeds when choosing fields for peas.
Cultivation	Cultivation is not useful in pea weed control since peas are drilled on 7" rows. See Cornell fact sheet on mechanical weed control. SARE Publication: "Steel in the Field"
Banding herbicides	Banding of herbicides at planting is not useful in pea production.
Cover Crops, Weed Seed Bank Assessment	See report on using buckwheat as a weed control cover crop See report on estimating weed seed banks SARE publication: "Managing Cover Crops Profitably" Cornell cover crop decision tool Cornell buckwheat cover crop handbook Cornell Forage Species Selection Tool

Compound(s)
Comparing Environmental Risks of Pesticides In the "Field Use EIQ" column is the range of EIQ (Environmental Impact Quotient) values for the rate range recommended for each pesticide (lower EIQ = lower environmental impact). Other pesticide risk models are useful for specific purposes. WIN-PST is required for some USDA NRCS conservation plans.
Common name Trade Name	Rate/A Product	PHI (days)	REI (hours)	Field Use EIQ	Comments
preplant incorported
trifluralin (broadleaves and grasses except ragweed and mustard)
Treflan HFP 4 lb/gal	0.5-0.75 qt		12	13-20	Apply and incorporate about 2" within a few hours. Stunting may occur in cold, wet soils.
pendimethalin (grasses, some broadleaves, and velvetleaf, but not ragweed or mustard)
Prowl 3.3EC 3.3lb/gal	1.2-3.6 pt		24	13-27	Apply and incorporate 2" within a few hours. Stunting may occur in cold, wet soils.
Prowl H2O 3.8lb/gal	1.5-3.0 pt		24	17-35
preemergence
clomazone (annual grasses and selected broadleaf weeds, eg. velvetleaf)
Command 3ME 3 lb/gal	1.3 pt	45	12	5	Apply only as a preemergent soil applied treatment prior to seeding or after seeding but prior to crop emergence. Place seed below the chemical barrier when planting.Slight to moderate injury (whitening of leaf tissue) may occur after crop emergence. This injury is generally transitory. Residual carryover of Command 3ME may injure fall-planted wheat or rye crops. See label
postemergence
bentazon (nutsedge, Canada thistle, ragweed, mustard species)
Basagran 4 lb/gal	1-2 pt	10	12	9-18	Peas must have 3 pairs of leaves before application. Two applications are necessary for control of yellow nutsedge and Canada thistle. Caution: crop oil cannot be used with Basagran on peas.
imazamox
Raptor 1lb/gal	3 fl oz	30 see comments below	4	<1	See comments below
Delayed flowering is a concern with this product.  Raptor should be applied to peas at least 3 inches tall but prior to 5 nodes before flowering.  Basagran MUST BE used  with all Raptor applications as this decreases flowering delay.  PHI is 30 days when used with Basagran.  Only a non-ionic surfactant may be used (i.e., nitrogen based fertilizers may not be used).
sethoxydim (annual grasses)
Poast 1.5 lb/gal	1-1.5 pt	15	12	5-7	Apply when grasses are actively growing and not under stress. Apply with 2 pt oil concentrate per acre.
quizalofop P-ethyl (annual and perennial grasses)
Assure II 0.88 lb/gal Targa 0.88 lb/gal	0.375-0.75 pt 0.375-0.75 pt	30 30	12 12	2-4 2-4	Apply when grasses are growing, 2-6" tall (annuals) or 6-10" tall (perennials) and not under stress. Use with 1% v/v petroleum-based oil concentrate or with 0.25% v/v nonionic surfactant. Two applications may be necessary for adequate control of quackgrass. Do not apply more than 14 oz/A in a growing season. Tank mixes with postemergence broadleaf herbicides may reduce efficacy.
MCPB (broadleaves)
Thistrol 2S 2 lb/gal	2 pt		12	9	Do not apply later than 3 nodes before flowering. In early peas, those at nodes 9-11, the timing of this postemergence application is critical. Late applications in early peas cause nonuniform flowering resulting in uneven maturity.
MCPB+bentazon (broadleaves)
Thistrol  2 lb/gal Basagran 4 lb/gal	2 pt + 1 pt		12 (alone 48 (alone)	19 17	This combination effectively controls many emerged broadleaves if applied when the weeds are at the recommended stage of development.
preplant incorporated, preemergence, or postemergence
imazethapyr (nightshade, redroot pigweed, and mustard species)
Pursuit 2 lb/gal	2-3 fl oz	30	4	<1
Postemergence applications require a nonionic surfactant. May not be used PPI or preemergence where Treflan has been or will be applied. If applying postemergence to Treflan-treated beans, reduce the rate to 2 fl oz. Caution: do not apply to sandy or loamy-sand soils. Carefully observe the crop rotation restrictions as this is a persistant herbicide. For example, the rotation restriction periods are 18, 26, and 40 months for sweet corn, potatoes, and cabbage, respectively.

Check NYS PIMS (Product, Ingredient, and Manufacturer System) to see if the label is current for New York. SPECIAL NEW YORK RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY. (http://magritte.psur.cornell.edu/pims/)

References

1 Hagedorn, D. J., ed. 1984. Compendium of Pea Diseases. American Phytopathologic Society. Saint Paul, Minnesota. 57 pp.

2 Vea, E. V., D. R. Webb, and C. J. Eckenrode. 1975. Seedcorn maggot injury. New York's Food and Life Sciences Bulletin 55. 4 pp.

3 Hoffmann, M. P., and A. C. Frodsham. 1993. Natural Enemies of Vegetable Insect Pests. Cornell Cooperative Extension. 64 pp.

4 Pennsylvania State University. 1987. Weed identification, pp. 1-32. Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension, University Park.

5 Shelton, A.M. and R.C. North. 1987. Injury and control of onion thrips on edible podded peas. J. Econ. Entomol. 80: 1325-1330.

World Wide Web Sites:

Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide:
http://www.ppws.vt.edu/weedindex.htm

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America:
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/

IPM Vegetable Fact Sheets:
http://nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/vegetables/default.asp

Plant Disease Diagnosis Clinic:
http://PlantClinic.cornell.edu

Vegetable MD Online:
http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/Home.htm

Measuring Environmental Impact of Pesiticides:
http://nysipm.cornell.edu/publications/eiq/default.asp

Cornell Vegetable Team
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/extension/commercial/vegetables/vegeteam/index.html

The Northeastern Pest Management Center has links to information on IPM in the northeast and throughout the US

Cornell Soil Health website and manual

USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Publications (SARE)

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA): http://www.attra.org/

Next chapter Peppers

Maintained by Curtis Petzoldt, New York State IPM Program. Address comments or questions to vegrec@nysaes.cornell.edu
Last modified February 7, 2008