The Best Field Peas with Ham Recipe - Green Oklahoma (2024)

FAQs

Do field peas need to be soaked? ›

Frequently Asked Questions. Do you have to soak field peas before cooking? No, fresh field peas do not need to be soaked before they are cooked; only dry ones do. Fresh peas can go right into the pot for simmering.

Most cooks add in a form of pork, whether it be bacon drippings, fatback, ham hock, or salted pork… The meat not only develops the flavor but also acts as a thickener to the bean pot. Without this step, the peas can be rather boring.

Field pea is commonly grown as a cover crop, or, in more arid regions, for its smooth dried seeds used as food or feed crops. Garden pea is more commonly grown in New England for fresh market use. Garden peas contain higher sugar and lower starch contents than field peas and have wrinkled mature seeds.

The seeding rate depends on seed size. Field pea varieties will range from 1,600 to 5,000 seeds per pound. A plant population of 300,000 plants per acre or 7 - 8 plants per square foot is recommended. For optimal results, drill the seed into a smooth seedbed at a depth of 1 - 2 inches.

How to cook peas. Boil (2-3 mins - use the minimum amount of water needed, and don't add salt, as they'll toughen up. A pinch of sugar will bring out their sweetness). Steam (1-2 mins).

You can cook dried green peas without soaking them in liquid, but they will take far longer to cook. Unsoaked green split peas will take approximately 35-45 minutes; unsoaked whole green peas take up to 75 minutes to cook.

Phosphorus (P2O5)

Adequate levels of phosphorus are critical for optimum yield and early maturity. Phosphorus deficiency restricts top and root growth, resulting in spindly stems with fewer branches. Phosphorus moves poorly in soil, so it should be placed near the seed.

You don't want your peas to have too much nitrogen in the soil because then you'll get lots of leaves and not enough peas. Just add some good organic compost over the roots of your pea plants regularly to encourage them to produce more peas.

At flowering time ensure the plants get good supplies of water because this will help the plant to produce more pods and increase yields. Harvesting – Cutting the pod from the plant with a scissors or secateurs is a good way to harvest peas so as not to damage the plant.

Peas cook faster than beans, and - like beans - they don't have to be soaked at all, but not soaking affects the cooking time. An hour or two of soaking is plenty for whole green or yellow peas…they don't need to go overnight like beans typically do.

Do peas like wet or dry soil? ›

Peas prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH balance 6.5 to 7) and grows best in moist, well-drained, loose and sandy conditions. That said, they are tolerant of a variety of soil types, except for very heavy clay. Peas like at least six hours of sun a day but start to fade when summer heat sets in.

The black-eyed pea is the most commonly available variety of all field peas—and what many are likely most familiar with. It's also arguably the most humble variety of field peas: Though many favor it as a Southern staple or traditional holiday food, it doesn't have the most robust flavor of the bunch.

It's true, soaking peas overnight in water shortens their cooking time. But soaking isn't entirely necessary. Split peas cook relatively quickly. Unsoaked peas take from 1 to 2 hours of simmering; soaked peas take about 40 minutes.