Basics

Ease of Growing
Easy
Grown as
Annual
Days to Maturity
60-180 (Fall/Winter)
Growing Habit
-
Hardiness
Hardy

Germinates and grows in cooler soils than most legumes and withstands temperatures to 10° F.

Crops
Fall
Growing Season
Short, Long
Cultivar Type
-
Growing Conditions
Cold, Cool, Warm

Austrian Winter Peas grow best in cooler temperatures with plenty of moisture. These plants are sensitive to heat, and will not do as well in temperatures over 80˚ F.

Outdoor Growing Temp
40°F - 85°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp
30°F

Most cool weather cover crop should be started when temperatures are still in the 60's to allow the plants to establish before winter. Established plants are hardier than seedlings and better able to survive the winter Winterkill.

Start Indoors
No
Start Outdoors
Yes
Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool)

Cover crops need full sun when growing in winter, as days are shorter and the sun is lower in the sky. If grown in summer many will tolerate light shade (though they grow best in full sun).

Water
Low

Most of these crops are not particularly drought tolerant and will need regular watering in dry climates (especially when germinating and getting established). However they are mostly grown during the winter when the soil is fairly moist, so don't usually require much irrigation.

Feeder
Light

You do not need to fertilize cover crop in established gardens, as there will be plenty of nutrients in the garden to meet their needs. Since you will be incorporating them back in to the soil, growing them doesn't remove any nutrients from the soil.

The leguminous cover crops also fix nitrogen and eventually add it to the soil.

Suitability
Tolerates light frost
Small Gardens?
Yes
Containers?
No
Attracts beneficial insects?
Yes
Color
Fruit Size
- "
Plant Height
12.0 - 36.0"
Plant Diameter
- "
Hardiness Zone
-
Disease Resistance
Taste Profile

The young foliage tastes of green peas and can be quite good, but the plant isn't normally grown as food.

 

Rotation Group
Soil Builders and Cleaners: Legumes + Corn + Potatoes