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Whether snap, garden variety or oriental pod peas, there are several common pea problems that may plague the home gardener. Lets take a look at some of the issues affecting pea plants.
Asocochyta blight, bacterial blight, root rot, damping off, downy and powdery mildew, fusarium wilt, and various viruses are some of the pea plant diseases that may afflict pea plants.
Asocochyta blight is composed of a trio of fungi, Ascochyta pisi, Phoma medicaginis var. pinodella (A. pinodella), and Mycosphaerella pinodes (A. pinodes), which survive through the winter months in plant debris or are introduced during planting season on infected pea seeds. Wind and rain transmit spores onto healthy plants. Although symptoms may vary depending upon the fungus causing the infection, generally Asocochyta blight appears as a blackened stem, yellow foliage with brown blotches and bud drop. Both pods and seeds may be afflicted, and severe infections kill off seedlings. To control Asocochyta blight remove and destroy diseased plants as soon as symptoms appear. There are no resistant fungicides available, so preventative measures such as crop rotation with non-susceptible crops on a yearly basis, and planting of disease free seed are recommended.
Similar to the Asocochyta blight, bacterial blight is another disease in pea plants that survives winter in infected surface plant refuse and in infected seed. Most commonly caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae, bacterial blight may also be caused by other bacterium. Again, water, either rain splash, overhead watering or pet or human activity in a wet garden, spread the bacteria afflicting pea plants, often those that are already damaged by such things as frost. At first bacterial blight looks like shiny, dark green water spots on the leaf surfaces and then these irregularly shaped spots become papery, brown to translucent with the center lighter in hue. If allowed to continue, the disease will spot all of the plant, including its pods and cause bud and young pod drop. To fight bacterial blight, plant commercially grown, disease free seeds and do not use those from other plants, even if they appear to be healthy. Remove all debris in the fall and rotate crops yearly. Also, water plants at the base of the plants, and do not work around them when leaves are wet to prevent the spread of this disease in pea plants.
Growing peas can be a rewarding experience, offering the promise of harvest day and fresh garden peas However, nothing is more frustrating than nurturing pea plants only to have something eat the plants and steal your pea crop If you’ve noticed damage on your pea plants, you’re probably wondering, “What is eating my pea plants?” Read on to learn about common pea plant pests, the typical damage they cause, and how to identify the culprit ruining your pea patch.
Common Pea Plant Pests
A variety of pests find pea plants irresistible. Here are some of the usual suspects that may be damaging your plants:
Birds
Birds like sparrows cardinals finches, crows, and others enjoy snacking on tender pea shoots and leaves. They may also damage or eat developing pea pods. Look for cleanly cut stems, holes in leaves, missing shoots, and half-eaten pods. You may even spot birds dining on your plants.
Slugs and Snails
These slimy creatures chew irregular holes in pea leaves and can devour seedlings overnight Look for shiny slime trails around your garden as evidence of their presence They feed mostly at night and hide under boards, rocks and foliage during the day.
Insects
Aphids, bean beetles, pea moths, pea weevils, leafminers, and cutworms will munch on pea plants. Scan leaves for small insects like aphids or the tiny larvae of pea moths and leafminers. Check for notched leaves or wilting, dying plants which can indicate cutworm damage. Look for bean beetles and pea weevils dining on leaves and pods.
Rodents
Voles and mice gnaw on seeds, roots, and stems. You may find partially eaten seeds or seedlings sheared off at soil level. Other clues are small holes in the ground, surface runways in mulch, and droppings.
Deer and Rabbits
Hungry deer and rabbits eat tender shoots, leaves, and pods. Look for clean cuts on stems and ragged edges on leaves and pods from gnawing. You may also spot hoof prints or scat in or around your garden.
Stopping Pea Plant Pests
Once you’ve identified what’s munching your pea patch, you can take steps to protect your crop. Here are some effective tactics:
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Barrier methods: Keep birds, mammals, and insects away by covering plants with netting or row cover fabric. Make sure to seal the edges.
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Traps: Set slug and snail traps like beer traps to capture these nighttime nibblers. Live traps can remove mice and voles.
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Repellents: Use organic scent or taste repellents formulated to discourage rabbits, deer, birds, etc. Reapply frequently.
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Scare tactics: Fake owls, flashing lights, or metallic ribbons may deter birds. Dogs/cats can scare deer and rabbits.
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Garden maintenance: Remove insect and slug hiding spots by cleaning up debris. Attract insect predators like birds and beneficial insects. Handpick large insects and slugs.
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Insecticides: Spray insecticidal soap, neem oil, or spinosad to kill small chewing insects. Apply at first sign of bugs.
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Fencing: Install tall fencing around your garden to keep out rabbits and deer. Use fine mesh screening at ground level to exclude rodents.
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Companion planting: Planting onions, garlic, and herbs like mint near peas can repel certain pests.
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Crop rotation: Moving peas and other legumes to a new spot each year limits some pest populations.
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Resistant varieties: Choose disease-resistant pea varieties less attractive to common pests.
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Timing: Planting early or late in the season can sometimes avoid peak pest populations.
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Sanitation: Promptly remove spent pea plants after harvest. This eliminates overwintering sites for some pests.
Protecting Your Pea Crop
Don’t let pests discourage you from growing delicious peas. A combination of preventive measures and prompt pest control when damage appears can help ensure a bountiful pea harvest. Identify what’s munching your peas, implement targeted solutions, and vigilantly watch for continued pest pressure. With a little effort, you can safeguard your pea patch and finally enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Root rot and Damping off
Caused by a number of fungi, root rot and damping off are other common pea problems exacerbated by cool, wet soil. Seeds become soft and rotted while seedlings fail due to sunken stem lesions. Older seedlings develop root rot when peas are planted in overly wet soil. Root rot fungi makes foliage yellowed, stunted, wilted or just plain dead looking. Should you be so inclined to look, roots will be brown, black or red with the outer layer of root peeling off. On occasion, lesions may appear. To prevent these fungal conditions, purchase commercially grown, disease free seeds and/or those pre-treated with fungicide. Again, rotate crops and be sure to plant in well draining soil with proper spacing. Do not over water.
Downy and Powdery mildew
Downy mildew and powdery mildew are also fungi that are spread via spores, although cool, moist conditions foster spore dispersal in downy mildew, while absence of rain does so in powdery mildew. Fungicide application may be helpful as well as crop rotation. Remove debris at the end of the growing season and purchase disease free seeds.
Fusarium wilt is a soil-borne fungus, which may also be found in old plant debris as well as the soil. Wilting is one of the first signs of this disease, slowly progressing to faded, yellowing foliage and stunted growth. Eventually most plants succumb to this fungal pathogen and die. Though fungicides are available that may alleviate the issue, the best way to control its spread is by preventing infection in your crops. This can be achieved through regular rotation of crops and sterilization of the soil through solarization.Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
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What is eating Pea plant.
FAQ
What ate my pea plants?
Unfortunately the list of possible culprits includes cutworms, rabbits, chipmunks, and slugs/snails, even though the plants are under cover. Is the row cover (or plastic cover) secured tightly to the ground?
How do you protect peas from pests?
A good prevention is to cover the plants with insect netting (floating row covers) from when they are babies. This will help to prevent them from becoming an issue!
What is eating the leaves of my sweet peas?
Slugs and snails will attack young sweet pea seedlings, eating the leaves. They can be identified by the slime trails that they leave, as well as the damage they do.
What to spray on peas for bugs?
| Active Ingredient | Pests Managed |
|---|---|
| Insecticidal Soap3 (0 day PHI) | aphids, whiteflies, spider mites |
| Malathion1 (3 day PHI) | aphids, spider mites |
| Pyrethrin4 (0 day PHI) | whiteflies |
| Spinosad5 (3 day PHI) | bean beetles, caterpillars, cowpea curculio, stink bugs |