Sowing time and rate
Spring sowing optimal when soil temperature has reached 7-80C. Risk of drought with summer sowing. Winterhardy types can be sown in autumn in winter-mild areas, e.g. southern Europe. Seed rates are variable, being influenced by seed size (and cost of seeds), but 100-125 kg/ha is typical. A target plant population for pure-sown stands is 70-80 plants/m2. Pure-sown peas can be undersown with a grass seed mixture where leafless or semi-leafless peas are used since they have better standing ability and allow more light penetration to the base of the stand than leafy cultivars. However, it is much more common to undersow arable silage, e.g. using 40-60 kg/ha peas plus 60-100 kg/ha spring barley (Whytock and Frame, 1985b); vetches (Vicia sativa) may also be included at 10-30 kg/ha. Forage pea/triticale mixtures may also be used.