Companion plants for snow peas are quite a few, unlike so many other plants with numerous options of plants to pair with them. However, once you identify and plant the most suitable companions next to your snow pea plants, you can rest assured that your garden is getting the maximum mutual benefits it can from these plants.
There are countless types of pea plants, all of which help to fix nitrogen in the soil for the benefit of other plants, especially garden vegetables. Let’s begin!
Contents
List of the Best Companion Plants for Snow Peas.
1. String Beans
String bean is the less common name for the vegetable that is popularly known as green beans. It is so popular, it finds its way into several culinary dishes all over the world. These delicious beans not only provide the necessary nutrients for people when they are consumed but are also beneficial as companion plants for peas.
As the weather warms, Mennonite peas will require plenty of shade, which can be provided by string beans that are strategically positioned, or else they may be under stress. Additionally, string beans require similar growing conditions as Mennonite peas, so they make suitable planting partners.
– General Characteristics
String bean plants produce long, round or flat pods, depending on the variety. These plants are annuals, and they grow fast. Depending on the variety, they grow between two and even 15 feet tall, and two to three feet wide.
They are full-sun vegetables, and as mentioned before can provide some shade for other small plants in the garden. Uncooked or undercooked string bean seeds can be poisonous to animals and sometimes people.
– Specific Needs
When planting, string beans need proper spacing to grow, so make sure to arrange them with adequate space, which is about four feet apart between them. They require full sunlight exposure and moist, well-draining loamy soils with an acidic pH to grow optimally.
2. Sugar Snap Peas
These plants are hybrids; a cross between Mennonite peas and garden peas. They also belong to the legume family and have similar growing conditions as Mennonite peas, which makes them suitable for companion planting with the very same measures to be taken.
– General Characteristics
Sugar snap peas are typically sweet, as evident in their name; however, these medium-sized peas grow in thick edible pods. Most people eat them cooked, but they can also be eaten raw and can be used in salads, because of their flavor.
On the other hand, snap peas are leguminous crops, which means that they can fix nitrogen into the soil, making them suitable Mennonite pea companions, as one would be helping the other in a very useful way.
– Specific Needs
Growing sugar snap peas is quite easy as long as you monitor them carefully throughout their growing period. They enjoy full sunlight exposure, so grow peas in areas they can receive it. These plants grow optimally in moist soils. It’s best to ensure that the soil in which you grow sugar snap peas is just moist, and not water-logged, as these plants can develop root rot in extremely moist conditions.
3. Sugar Corn
Who doesn’t love a piece of juicy buttered corn to pair with other foods? The thing is, there are several varieties of corn, and one of them is sugar corn, popularly known as sweet corn.
Growing peas with sugar corn are mutually beneficial because on one hand, the corn will get proper nutrients infused by the peas, from the soil, and on the other hand, the peas will have a support to climb unto when they’re growing and spreading. In addition, when these maise grow, they will provide the right amount of shade for the peas.
– General Characteristics
Sugar Corn is an annual plant. It is a delicate crop that yields white, yellow or two-toned edible kernels. Sugar corn is usually grown and harvested before the frost arrives because it needs about 100 frost-free days to grow and produce its sweet kernels. The flowers of these plants are usually wind-pollinated, then after a bit of pollination, it will be great to see it blooming.
You can practice crop rotation with sugar corn plants, legumes, root vegetables, and leafy green plants; it makes a more interesting and full garden.
– Specific Needs
One thing sugar corns have in common with Mennonite peas is that they are both sun-lovingly plants. These plants thrive when they’re exposed to at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Lastly note that these corns love constantly moist soils, as long as they have an acidic or neutral pH, and can drain well.
4. Spinach
Spinach is a leafy green vegetable, and it can be eaten cooked or uncooked. These vegetables are great sources of vitamins and minerals, and it’s no wonder they’re popular in many dishes.
Spinach companion plants are adapted to cool season growing conditions, just like Mennonite peas. Coincidentally, they need huge amounts of nitrogen to grow, which can be supplied by Mennonite peas, which makes it a suitable companion to plants and pair with peas in your garden.
– General Characteristics
Spinach is an annual vegetable that produces edible semi-triangular green leaves, which can grow crinkled or flat. These vegetable plants also grow inconspicuous yellow flowers and tiny fruits, which are inedible. They grow in small clumps which would be on average 11 inches tall, very close to the ground, and slowly they will thrive bigger.
– Specific Needs
Spinach plants thrive under full sun exposure. They can also tolerate a bit of shade. These plants require moist soil conditions; adequate mulching and watering will help to keep the soil constantly moist. Planting peas with spinach plants will provide a sufficient amount of nitrogen for them.
5. Basil
If you’re familiar with herbs, you would have heard of basil leaves. These plants are the perfect companion herbs for peas. Several pests like thrips, which attack pea pods and destroy them, can be deterred by the fragrant oils in basil. This is why choosing basils for companion planting with Mennonite peas is a good idea.
– General Characteristics
Basil is an annual plant. It grows slightly round, light-green leaves that are edible, and are popularly used as herbs in food. What is significant about their feature is that the leaves are usually cupped, and arranged on opposite sides of thick stems.
They also produce tiny, typically white flowers that are arranged on spikes, that emerge from the stems’ apex. These plants can grow as tall as 30 inches, depending on their type and environmental factors.
– Specific Needs
Basils thrive when they are exposed to full sunlight. However, they will benefit from a little shade from the afternoon sun in hotter weather. They prefer to grow in nutrient-rich, moist soils that drain well. Regular watering helps them grow well.
However, be careful of over-watering as the plants can drown, or develop root rot. Mulching can go a long way to prevent overwatering, and help the soil retain moisture. Don’t worry about any pests and this is due to their strong fragrance, that these disturbers will not attack.
Conclusion
One plant that wasn’t mentioned, but will also grow well with peas is tomato companion plants. Let’s go over a few key points.
- Peas help to fix nitrogen in the soil, and the plants you choose to grow with them will benefit greatly from this.
- You should select plants that have similar growth needs as Mennonite peas for companion planting with them, like the snap peas for instance.
- Mennonite peas need partial shades when they have matured, which means if you plant corn they will provide a shaded place for them to thrive.
- As there are plants that will be perfect for companion planting with peas, there are also plants that you shouldn’t even consider growing with them. You should never combine peas with alliums because they will prevent your peas from developing properly.
Now that you know what to plant with peas, and the most suitable plants to grow with them, you can select any of them, and get a start on growing a full vegetable garden, and as you plant them, you don’t need to think what not to plant with peas.
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