Discover how easy it is to grow Peas with kids in your garden. Plus use our garden journal to expand your child’s learning in the garden.
Our household loves gardening. I am often asked what is our favorite vegetable to grow.
Without a doubt, I would say, snow peas.
Growing Peas with Kids
Snow peas are one of my favorite plants to grow in both our home and school garden. Mostly because they are so easy to grow.
Peas prefer cooler weather and can be planted after the danger of frost is over. I till my soil by hand with a shovel and make finger indents about an inch deep and two inches apart from each other.
Then, I let the kids put one pea in each hole We cover with soil, water, and wait. Soon, these little “flags” appear.
After several weeks, the plants get bigger and blossoms form. Within days each blossom becomes a pea.
And as the peas get bigger, we pick and eat them. If you have a class of 18 children, this is one vegetable that everyone can have a chance to harvest and eat on the same day. It won’t be a whole serving of vegetables, but will at least let the children sample the fruits of their labor.
If you have a home garden, we planted a 4 foot row of peas and both children have been eating a small handful every day for snacks.
We have even gone out to pick them early in the morning to pack them in my 5 year old’s lunch boxes. My 2 year old runs to the garden and says, “morning peas!” and then proceeds to rip the peas off the plants and stuff them in his mouth as fast as possible before his big sister gets to them.
I can’t say I mind, although we are working on taking them off a little bit more gentle for the safety of the plants!
Helpful tips for growing peas
I used to have trouble growing peas until I called my mom (who has an amazing garden in MN). She asked, “How often are you watering them?” I had just been watering them the 2-3 times a week like my other vegetables, but I learned that peas like water!
I now water my peas once, even twice a day and since I started this practice last year, my peas have been fantastic! The other piece of advice was to plant them early in the season as they do not like extreme heat!
Yeah – my kids really go crazy for peas out of the garden!!!
Garden Journal for Kids
Want to extend your learning even further?
- Count your harvest and compare the amount to the day before
- Record what you have harvested in your gardening journal. Here is one I have created for my kids and is available for purchase at my Teachers Pay Teachers Store. It is 20 pages at only $2.00, available for instant download!
- Measure your pea pods – see who can find the longest!
- Sing a song or fingerplay about peas
- Write a story about growing peas
- Read a story about peas!
Five Fat Peas
Author Unknown Shared at Preschool Rainbow
Five fat peas in a pea pod pressed
(children hold hand in a fist)
One grew, two grew, so did all the rest.
(put thumb and fingers up one by one)
They grew and grew
(raise hand in the air very slowly)
And did not stop,
Until one day
The pod went POP!
(children clap hands together)
Additional Information about Peas
How to grow peas by Heirloom Organics.
Crafting Links
- Adorable peas in the pod craft using a paper plate!
- Make your own felt peas
- Another felt pea tutorial!
- A silly free coloring page.
- The most adorable Pea In the Pod themed baby shower!
Happy Gardening!
Click for more Gardening with Kids Ideas
Looking for more gardening with peas?
Visit our Post about Growing Texas 40 Peas or visit our Gardening with Kids Resource Page
Do you know how hot peas like it? I am wondering if we have missed the season to plant them since it is already reaching the 80's mid day here in Central TX. I bet they would do well in the Fall here.
I try to plant a short row every few weeks for about a month. My last batch (planted 2 weeks ago, is not doing as well because we are in the 80's) Snow peas really like the cool crisp nights and do NOT like the hot sunny days. Cow peas – like Texas 40 can be planted in the hot weather!
I love your little 'how a pea grows' story, your printables, your poem, and activities. Wonderful post!
Perfect timing! We just visited the nursery yesterday, planting peas today! TY!
Exciting! Do stop back and let me know how they are growing!
Thank you so much Heather! My kids and I really enjoy gardening and hope we can inspire more families to try it!
Now I can't wait to grow peas! I wish I had seen this sooner, as it is already getting hot here. I guess I will have to wait until next year :/
They are one of my favorite veggies to grow with kids! The good news, is that if you are in some hotter zones, you may be able to sneak a crop in this fall! Your local extension office or Feed-n-seed store should have a planting guide with dates for your area! Websites like this http://sproutrobot.com can give you an idea of what to plant in your are right now =)
We've found shelling peas to be a great multi-sensory way to keep little hands busy at our house!
Amanda, I love your gardening tips- you know I had the same trouble with underwatering my peas, when I figured that out my peas started growing wonderfully! We just barely planted ours last week- can't wait to see them start popping up!
My kids love it too – although we planted such a small patch that most of them were eaten raw =) I planted a row of cow peas last week!
Isn't that first stage exciting? Unfortunately, we are nearing the end of our harvesting season due to the warm weather, but we will hopefully get another crop in the fall. I am hoping my tomatoes are ready soon to make up for the pea loss! They started blossoming last week!
I love this post! It looks like you had great success with your peas. My grandfather used to grow these and they were one of my favorites in his garden. I can remember eating them straight out of the pod! Great pictures too.
We haven't tried growing peas but we definitely will now! We do grow runner beans so that the plants make a living teepee for the kids to hide in. I wonder if pea plants grow as tall?
They are not quite as tall and a little more fragile – We are going to try runner beans this year and hopefully make a hut for the kids too!
We have never tried peas in the garden – maybe we will this year. Great resources and cute pics! Thanks for sharing at the Discover & Explore linky!
I write for children – gardening books among other things – and think your blog is a great way to help parents inspire young gardeners. Keep up the good work
Diana Noonan
[email protected]
It’s a great tip to plant them early in the season! I have gotten extra peas by planting early. The kids get so excited when the peas start blooming!
Tina Martino
https://www.gardenloka.com