Why Didn't My Peas Develop Healthy Pods?

Have the blossoms dropped without forming pods?

Was there any extreme weather while growing your peas?

Are the young pods distorted and withered, older pods may have water-soaked or purplish spots?

Are the pods mottled, deformed and rough?

Do the pods have white spots on them?

Do the pods have chewed holes in them?

Do the seeds have brown spots or cavities on them?

Excessive heat or rain can cause blossoms to drop. Wait for new blossoms to form.

Copper and/or molybdenum deficiency cause these symptoms. Spray plants with seaweed extract to help prevent deficiencies. If plants are very dark green and no blossoms form, suspect too much nitrogen. Wait for the blossom to form and avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers.

These symptoms may indicate a fungal or bacterial disease - Blight. Leaves also have brown-purple spots. Leaves may turn yellow and plants may die. Spray plants with copper if the weather is wet. Remove severely infected plants.

If the pods are mottled, deformed and rough your peas are suffering from Mosaic virus. Viral diseases are incurable. Destroy infected plants. Control aphids and cucumber beetles that spread viruses and leguminous weeds, such as vetch, that can harbor viruses. Prevent problems by planting tolerant cultivars such as ‘Knight' and ‘Maestro’.

White spots on peas' pods are caused by the fungal infections - Downy mildew or Powdery mildew. To control fungal diseases, thin plants to increase air movement. If the weather is wet spray sulfur in the evening. Resistant cultivars for downy mildew are ‘Green Arrow' and ‘Knight’, and for powdery mildew are ‘Bounty’, ‘Knight’ and ‘Maestro'.

Various caterpillars eat pea pods. Handpick them or spray plants with BTK if worms are feeding. Cover young plants with row cover to prevent moths from laying eggs.

These symptoms usually indicate manganese deficiency. Spray plants with seaweed extract every 2 weeks to prevent deficiencies.

If the seeds have small, round holes in them the culprits are Pea weevils. Fat, white larvae feed on seeds. Adults are dark beetles with light markings that may feed on pea flowers. Discard infested seeds and do not compost them. Cover seeded areas with row cover to prevent adults from laying eggs. Spray plants with pyrethrin if adults are present.