When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
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.
As a home gardener who loves growing pea plants for their beautiful vines, edible pods, and nutritious peas, I’ve dealt with my fair share of frustration when pests attack these tender vegetables Over the years, through trial and error combined with research, I’ve learned how to identify what is eating my pea plants and effective ways to stop the damage In this article, I’ll share what I know so you can protect your pea crop too.
Common Pests that Attack Pea Plants
A variety of little critters find pea plants just as tasty as we do Here are some of the most likely culprits
Insects
Aphids – These tiny sap-sucking insects can swarm pea plants clustering on stems, the undersides of leaves and new growth. They extract plant juices, causing stunted growth, curled leaves, or yellowing.
Pea Weevils – Adults are a type of beetle that lays eggs inside pea pods. The larvae hatch and bore into the developing peas, ruining the crop. Exit holes in pods and damaged peas are evidence of infestation.
Pea Moths – Larvae (caterpillars) of these moths feed on leaves, buds, and pods. They spin silk webbing for protection.
Caterpillars – All types of caterpillars munch on pea plant leaves. Look for ragged holes in foliage and caterpillars on plants.
Mammals
Deer – Hungry deer can make a quick meal of pea seedlings and vine tips. Lack of mature plants may signal deer damage.
Rabbits – Rabbits nibble on young pea shoots and vines, sometimes eating plants right down to the ground.
Voles – Voles chew on roots below ground and girdle stems at soil level. Plants wilt suddenly or topple over as a result.
Mice & Rats – Rodents like field mice and rats eat planted pea seeds, newly sprouted seedlings, and maturing peas in pods.
Groundhogs – Groundhogs raid gardens and eat almost anything including pea foliage and pods.
Raccoons – Clever raccoons use their paws to pull up and open pea pods to get at the peas. Shredded empty pods are evidence.
Birds
Crows – Crows, ravens, jays, and magpies peck open ripe pea pods to eat the plump peas inside.
Pheasants – Pheasants enjoy fresh pea pods and may tear apart plants seeking more.
Sparrows – Flocks of sparrows descend on pea patches and nip off leaves, buds, and peas.
As you can see, everything from bugs to bunnies to birds love feasting on pea plants! Identifying signs of damage is the first step toward stopping these pests.
Recognizing Evidence of Pest Damage
Carefully inspect plants to determine which culprit is munching on your pea patch. Here’s what to look for:
- Chewed leaves with ragged holes – Insects, mammals, birds
- Slug trails, slime – Slugs and snails
- Tunnels in soil – Voles, mice, rats
- Wilted, dying plants – Voles, root damage
- Missing sprouts – Rodents eating seeds and seedlings
- Pods emptied, shredded – Birds, raccoons, rodents
- Peas inside pods damaged – Pea weevil, moths
- Plants completely gone – Deer, rabbits, livestock
Pay attention to timing, location, and severity of damage to pinpoint the likely perpetrator. For example, total destruction overnight indicates a larger pest like deer or rabbits. Holes in pods point to pea moths or weevils. Nipped off seedlings suggest voles or mice.
Stopping Pea Plant Pests
Once you’ve identified what’s attacking your pea patch, you can take steps to stop further pest damage. Effective control methods include:
Physical Barriers
Protect plants with floating row covers, small mesh fencing, or wire cages. Hardware cloth lining raised beds prevents underground pests. Support covers above plants for airflow. Use bird netting over pea patches. Fencing stops deer, rabbits, and livestock.
Traps
Set slug and snail traps like small dishes of beer buried at soil level. The pests are attracted to the yeasty smell and crawl in to drown. Live traps can capture rodents for humane removal.
Natural Predators
Draw beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings by planting flowers they like. Their larvae prey on bad bugs.birds and bats that eat insects.
Organic Pesticides
Apply organic-approved pesticide sprays derived from natural ingredients like neem oil, citrus oil, or hot pepper wax. Target treatment only where needed.
Animal Repellents
Use organic animal repellent sprays made with hot pepper, predator urine, or essential oils on areas susceptible to mammal and bird damage. Reapply after rain.
Habitat Modification
Remove protective cover sites for pests by clearing tall grass and weeds around pea plantings. Eliminate places for slugs and snails to hide.
Crop Rotation
Rotating placement of pea crops yearly limits pest buildup. Avoid following peas with other legumes.
Resistant Varieties
Plant pea varieties bred to be resistant to common pests like powdery mildew, pea enation mosaic virus, and pea weevil.
Sanitation
Promptly remove and destroy pest-infested plants or plant residue after harvest to eliminate eggs and habitat for next season.
An integrated approach using several methods often works best for thorough, effective pest control. Just be sure to avoid overusing broad spectrum pesticides which can harm beneficial insects too.
Preventing Pea Pest Damage in the First Place
They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to pesky pea pests. Here are some tips to avoid problems before they start:
- Inspect pea transplants for insects before purchasing
- Use row covers at time of planting for early protection
- Clear weeds and debris away from pea plantings
- Apply mulch buffer zones around plants
- Support vines on trellises to limit slug access
- Water pea plants at base only to discourage slugs
- Choose resistant pea varieties when available
- Rotate pea location each year in the garden
- Time plantings carefully to avoid heavy pest activity
- Clean up and discard pea debris promptly after harvest
- Maintain bird feeders away from the garden to deter birds
Stay vigilant in monitoring for pests and take quick action at first signs of damage. Prevention is the best defense against the pest parade waiting to pounce on your precious pea plants!
Be Persistent for Healthy, Pest-Free Pea Plants
Don’t let pests get the best of your pea patch! A little detective work to identify the culprits and persistent, organic pest management practices can outsmart those critters wanting to eat your pea plants. Combining physical barriers, biological control, habitat modification, plant resistance and gentle pesticides keeps peas protected. The reward will be enjoying a bountiful harvest of sweet, nutritious peas from thriving, pest-free pea plants.
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.
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.
Fertilizing And Feeding Peas – Garden Quickie Episode 81
FAQ
What eats my pea plant?
There are many potential pests of pea plants, with aphids and pea weevils being the most prevalent.
How do you protect pea plants?
Pea netting provides support for the climbing plants and also helps to keep the fruit clean and free from debris. It can also provide some protection from pests and birds.
What is nibbling my peas?
What is pea and bean weevil? Pea and bean weevils are beetles that eat the leaf margins and shoot tips of garden peas and broad bean, causing characteristic notch-like damage.
How do I keep bugs off my pea plants?
Placing insect netting (floating row covers) over your plants is a great way to prevent insect issues. Beneficial insects such as green lacewings, ladybugs, and praying mantis can be helpful to fight these beetle’s eggs and larvae. Yellow sticky traps have also been shown to be effective at catching these pests.