Thomas Laxton, Pea Seeds

Thomas Laxton Pea Seed

Productive heirloom vines bear classic shelling peas
Tender green peas offer pleasing sugary flavor
Traditional performance suits cool-season gardens
Excellent for fresh eating, cooking, and preserving

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Pisum sativum

Days to maturity

75 Days

Sun

Full Sun

About Thomas Laxton, Pea Seed, Pea Seed

Thomas Laxton is an heirloom pea plant that is big and productive. At Urban Farmer we have trialed these a few times and they are always are favorite shelling pea. The peas are always sugary and delicious. This pea variety is named after the famous pea breeder, Thomas Laxton. This old heirloom pea is over a century old and has withstood the test of time. Each pod contains at least 8 peas and often up to 10! Make sure to support the Thomas Laxton's 3' vines with a trellis.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

Days to Germination

7–10 days

In-row plant spacing

2-4"

Row Spacing

12-18"

Plant profile

Maturity

Spring, Fall

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

48 inches

Growth Habits

Climbing, Vining

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

156

Color

Green

Seed Type

Heirloom

Growing Season

Cool-Season Crop

Before Planting

For Pea, select a full-sun location with loose, well-drained soil and avoid heavy nitrogen applications. Incorporate compost only if the soil is poor, and use a soil test to correct pH, phosphorus, or potassium. Inoculate pea seed with the appropriate legume inoculant where compatible legumes have not recently grown, and install supports before planting climbing types.

Planting

Direct sow peas in early spring as soon as the soil is workable; the crop germinates and grows best in cool conditions around 55–65°F. Keep soil moderately moist but avoid saturation in cold weather. Sow peas about 1–2 inches apart; thinning is normally unnecessary. For fall crops, sow early enough to mature before persistent hard freezes.

Watering

Pea needs about 1 inch of water weekly, especially while flowering and forming pods. Water deeply at soil level, but avoid keeping the root zone continuously wet.

Fertilizer

Avoid routine nitrogen fertilizer on pea; healthy nodules normally supply the crop’s needs. Correct phosphorus, potassium, or pH deficiencies only as indicated by a soil test.

Harvesting

Pick pea regularly when pods reach expected length and seeds are at the desired stage. Hold the stem while removing pods. Leave seed crops until pods and seeds are thoroughly dry.

Tips

Support tall or vining peas with a trellis before tendrils begin searching; compact bush types may stand without support. Harvest pods frequently and avoid working wet vines.

AVG. Seeding Rate

1 lb. per 80', 13 lb./1,000', 272 lb./acre at 25 seeds/ft., in rows 24" apart.

Pests & Diseases

Fusarium wilt, Aphanomyces root rot, powdery mildew, Ascochyta blight, and viruses affect peas. Choose resistant varieties, plant clean seed, and rotate legumes for several years. Remove stunted or mosaic plants, avoid working wet vines, and never save seed from pods produced on blighted plants.

Watch pea for aphids, weevils, beetles, cutworms, and mites. Remove egg clusters and badly infested foliage, protect seedlings with collars, and avoid unnecessary broad-spectrum insecticides.