Growing Peas in Hanging Baskets: A Complete Guide for Productive, Space-Saving Harvests

Growing peas is a fun and rewarding way to add fresh, homegrown produce to your diet The sweet, tender peas can be eaten raw or cooked, added to salads, soups, stir fries and more While traditionally grown in garden rows or trellised upright, did you know peas also thrive when grown in hanging baskets?

Hanging baskets offer a unique solution for urban gardeners or anyone with limited space By utilizing vertical growing you can reap a prolific pea harvest without sacrificing precious square footage on the ground

In this complete guide, we’ll share everything you need to know about successfully growing peas in hanging baskets. You’ll learn the benefits, best varieties to plant, proper basket setup, care tips, and how to maximize your harvest. Let’s get started!

Benefits of Growing Peas in Hanging Baskets

There are many advantages to growing peas in suspended containers rather than directly in garden beds:

• Space saver – makes use of vertical area instead of ground space

• Convenience – baskets can be installed anywhere, moved to follow sunlight

• No trellising needed – vines trail down naturally without supports

• Pest protection – elevates plants away from slugs and rodents

• Easy access – no bending down for planting, tending and harvest

• Good for small gardens – maximizes production in limited area

• Fun novelty – appeals to those looking for something new and different

How to Choose Hanging Baskets for Peas

You’ll first need to select the right hanging basket to successfully grow peas:

• Material – Choose wire, moss, coconut fiber or plastic. Metal offers longevity but must be lined. Natural fibers provide good aeration.

• Size – Minimum 12′′ diameter and depth for peas. Bigger (14-16′′) gives more root room.

• Drainage – Necessary to prevent fungal issues in damp peas. Built-in drainage holes are ideal.

• Placement – Will basket hang in full sun? Partial shade? This determines suitable peas.

• Irrigation – Self-watering pots reduce maintenance but not required.

• Weight capacity – Sturdy hook and chain needed to hold mature pea vines/soil.

Consider setup and ergonomics for your space. Measure approximate hanging height to ensure easy care and harvest.

Best Pea Varieties for Hanging Baskets

Almost any pea variety will work, but these types are best suited for hanging basket culture:

• Shelling peas – English peas harvested for edible pods and seeds. Choose dwarfs under 30′′.

• Sugar snap peas – Edible pod types like ‘Sugar Ann’ stay compact and sweet.

• Snow peas – Flat podded varieties like ‘Oregon Sugar Pod II’ are prolific producers.

• Petit pois – Small, gourmet types like ‘French Delight’ fit well in baskets.

Look for early maturing, disease resistant cultivars ideal for container growing. Avoid large vining types that require staking.

Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Peas in a Hanging Basket

Follow this simple process for planting and caring for productive pea plants in hanging baskets:

1. Select an Appropriate Liner or Soil

Line wire baskets with coconut fiber or sphagnum moss liners. These help retain moisture while allowing airflow pea roots need.

For plastic or other baskets, use a lightweight potting mix amended with compost for nutrition and drainage.

2. Sow Pea Seeds in Basket

Plant seeds 1′′ deep spaced 2-3′′ apart in early spring after danger of frost. Sow in circles around basket edges for best foliage coverage. Stagger seeding over 2-3 weeks for prolonged harvests. Or presprout seeds indoors first for faster germination.

3. Hang Basket in Sunny Area

Peas need at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. South or west facing locations are ideal. Adjust hang height to get required sunlight as season progresses.

4. Water Frequently

Check soil daily, water when surface is dry to 1′′ depth. Add liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during growth and production.

5. Harvest Often

Begin picking snap and snow peas when pods fill out. Pick shell peas once plump inside pods. Frequent harvests enhance yields.

6. Remove Vines After Production

Cut back dead vines after final harvest, amend soil if reusing basket. Or compost spent plants and start fresh next season.

Caring for Peas Growing in Hanging Baskets

Cultivating a healthy, high yielding pea basket requires attentive care:

• Water when top inch of soil is dry. Overhead watering spreads disease.

• Feed every 2 weeks with balanced liquid fertilizer like fish emulsion.

• Inspect for pests like aphids. Wash off with water spray or use insecticidal soap.

• Monitor for powdery mildew, leaf spot and other fungal diseases. Apply organic fungicide if found.

• Weed carefully by hand to not disturb shallow pea roots.

• Place basket in shade if temperatures exceed 80°F.

• Turn basket periodically so vines grow evenly on all sides.

Tips for Maximizing Your Hanging Pea Harvest

Follow these tips to get the highest yields from your hanging basket peas:

• Pinch off the top center shoot when 6′′ tall. This encourages branching vines.

• Gently twist pea vines around basket rim to train direction of growth.

• Add a small trellis inside basket for extra vertical vine support to increase pod production.

• Hang at easy picking height. Bending to reach basket defeats space-saving benefit.

• Interplant quick growing lettuce or radish around peas to maximize use of space.

• Grow different pea varieties in separate baskets for longer staggered harvests.

• Add a plastic liner between moss and soil if hanging basket will be reused for better drainage.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even in ideal conditions, you may encounter some potential problems:

• Leggy, thin vines with few pods often means inadequate sunlight. Relocate to sunnier position.

• Flowers or tiny new pods dropping off can indicate heat or water stress.

• Wilting leaves may signal root rot from overwatering. Allow soil to fully dry out before next watering.

• Stunted plants with yellowing leaves likely indicate nutrient deficiency. Fertilize more often.

• Abundance of foliage growth but few pods formed generally means insufficient pollination. Transfer pollen among flowers manually.

Harvesting and Storing Your Basket Peas

Pick snow and snap peas when pods reach plump 5-7′′ size. Pods stay tender even if seeds inside swell.

For English shelling peas, allow pods to fill out fully before picking.

Check baskets daily once peas start maturing. Frequent picking stimulates further pod production.

Gently twist pods off vine. Take care not to damage developing pods still on plants.

Pick in early morning when peas are coolest and vines most turgid. Avoid harvesting when wet.

Store freshly picked peas in fridge in vented container for 1-2 weeks maximum.

Leave pods on roots attached to vines for longest freshness.

Shell and blanch English peas right after picking to preserve sweetness.

Growing peas in hanging baskets is an innovative, space-efficient way to generate impressive yields on a compact footprint. With the right setup, care and cultivars, you can harvest bushels of tasty peas from just a few containers. Give this fun, novel growing method a try this season to easily introduce homegrown goodness into your cooking!