Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus) is a spring-to-summer flowering heirloom that reaches a tidy 3 feet tall and produces edible seeds in 70 to 84 days from sowing to bloom. This tenacious plant thrives in full sun with moderate water and has been cultivated for centuries across diverse climates. Sow seeds directly or start indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost, and you'll be rewarded with reliable blooms stretching from March through August.
6
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
36in H x 8in W
—
High
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Grass Pea is a hardy heirloom legume that produces both ornamental flowers and edible seeds, making it work double duty in the garden. Its 70 to 84 day timeline means you can harvest seed from spring sowings well before fall, and it handles the unpredictable weather of cool springs with remarkable resilience. The plant's modest 3-foot height and 6-inch spacing make it easy to fit into beds or containers, while its moderate water needs mean it won't demand constant attention during dry spells.
Grass Pea produces edible seeds that can be harvested, dried, and stored for later use. The seeds are the primary edible product, offering a nutritious legume crop for home gardeners and small-scale growers.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors in pots 4 to 6 weeks before your planned outdoor planting date. Use a seed-starting mix and keep soil consistently moist. Expect germination to occur within 5 to 30 days depending on temperature and conditions.
Transplant seedlings outdoors in early spring, around 2 weeks before your last frost date, once they have developed true leaves and the soil is workable. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before final transplanting.
Sow seeds directly outdoors 2 weeks before your last spring frost in the location where you want them to grow. Plant at a depth of 1/2 to 1 inch and keep the soil moist until germination occurs.
Harvest seed pods once they have fully matured and dried on the plant, typically after blooming has finished in summer. Pod color will shift from green to brown as seeds mature. Collect pods by hand, allowing them to dry further indoors in a warm, airy location until seed pods open naturally or can be easily cracked open by hand. Extract seeds and store in a cool, dry place.
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