Peas, Little Marvel
Little Marvel Shelling Peas
Heirloom. Organic. Little Marvel was released by Sutton and Sons of England around 1900. However, it was first sold in the US by the J.H. Gregory Seed Co. a few years later. Little Marvel has vigorous 18-28" vines that bear sweet green 3" pods. Each pod contains 6-8 plump, luscious and sugary peas. Holds very well on the vine and stays tender/sweet even when mature. Wilt resistance. Excellent for freezing. Crisp, sweet and very flavorful Little Marvel Shelling Peas give heavy yields with up to three harvests per season. Little Marvel Shelling Peas can be prepared direct from the garden, as well as frozen or canned. Little Marvel Shelling Peas have a sweet eatable pod that tastes best when eaten only 1-2" long before filling out. Plant Little Marvel Shelling Peas seeds as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. Little Marvel Shelling Peas love cool weather and frost doesn't bother them. Plant the Little Marvel Shelling Peas seeds in double rows 3 - 4 inches apart. Sow Little Marvel Shelling Peas seeds 1" deep and 2 inches apart. Plant new rows every 10 days to extend season.
Planting Little MarvelShelling Peas
While starting seeds of the Little Marvel Shelling Peas is not necessarily difficult, the right conditions will make the process successful. Sow Little Marvel Shelling Peas seeds directly in the ground in the spring when the threat of frost has passed or start in containers several weeks before transplanting into soil. Keep the ground moist but not wet for the first couple of weeks. Pick a sunny, well-drained spot for planting for the best performance. Prefers a well-drained fertile soil in a sunny position. Little Marvel Shelling Peas are splendid for growing up fences or a cage. They will rapidly cover cages or can be made into their own garden feature with stakes and twine. They don't have to grow up. They're just as effective as trailers from hanging baskets and window boxes. Little Marvel Shelling Peas plants need regular watering. Height: 24-30 inches tall---needs some support Days to harvest— 60 Days
Spacing: 2-10" inches Depth: 1 inch Germination: 7-10 days
Starting from Seed Indoors
I normally start peas outside and do not transplant. But you can start these and transplant if you wish. Generally, the time to start your seeds is about 6- 8 weeks before the last expected spring frost date in your area, planting the seedlings outdoors about 2 weeks after that date. Another way to figure is to plan on setting out sturdy seedlings in the garden when night temperatures stay in the mid-50 degree range both day and night. Count back and sow seeds 6 to 8 weeks before that date normally arrives. Place a few seeds (1 to 2) into each pot and push them into the soil with your finger. Cover the seeds to a depth of approximately 1 inches of the potting mix. Mist each pot with water until the soil appears moist. Place the pots in an area which will provide both light (which is required for germination) and heat, preferably about 65 to 70 degrees F and at least 8 hours of light each day. Check on the seeds every day and keep the seeds damp but not drenched by misting with your plant mister. You should see sprouting in about 7 to 10 days. Once your seedlings have reached about 4 to 6 inches in height, choose an area in your garden to transfer them. You can also use containers like barrels or clay pots. Dig holes twice the width and depth of each of your pots. Fill up each hole with water then let it drain off. Place a pot in the hole center and level so that your seedling is at the same level as the surrounding soil. Push dirt in carefully all the way to fill the hole back up. Water each seedling carefully so as not to soak the leaves or stem.
Direct-seeding into the Garden
Turn over the area you've selected to a depth of approximately 2 inches. Rake the area until it's level and smooth. Water the area until the soil is damp but not saturated. Scatter the seeds in the area. Gently rake the area to distribute the seeds further and protect them from birds. Or, press the seeds into the soil and cover with no more than 1 inches of soil. You can also place 2 to 3 seeds every 3 to 4 inches in rows approximately 2-10 inches apart, and cover seeds with 1 inches of soil. Place planting stakes around the area so you will know where to water. Check on your seeds about once a day. Make sure to mist the soil whenever it appears dry. Germination for Little Marvel Shelling Peas plants is approximately 7 to 10 days, depending on the warmth of the soil.
Germination Problems
Growing plants from seeds successfully depends on a lot of factors and this makes it impossible to guarantee success on every batch of seeds planted. Factors include, soil composition, PH, temperature, moisture levels, seed depth, soil density, seed viability, seed storage and many others. We tested the germination of all our seeds and this seed variety is around 80%, but your results may vary based on exactly how you plant and all the environmental factors. Good luck.