🌱Wando is perhaps the most versatile of all pea varieties in that unlike most of its siblings, it can be grown in just about any region of the United States - even in warmer southern climates! Known worldwide for its tolerance to heat (and cold!). When other peas fail to bear under hot growing conditions, Wando continues to do well. Dark-green pods, blunt and well-filled with 6-8 tender, medium-sized peas. A vigorous, multi-purpose variety that is excellent fresh, frozen and canned. 64-72 days.
Introduced in 1943, 'Wando' is a cross between 'Laxton's Progress' (an English heirloom) and 'Perfection' (a New England heirloom). It is cold tolerant for early sowing, and more heat tolerant than other pea cultivars. Sturdy, 24"-30" plants with 7-9 medium-sized peas in each pod. Sow in early spring and again in midsummer. In mild climates, it can even be sown in fall for winter harvest.
Excellent for canning or freezing.
Botanical Name: Pisum sativum
Days to Maturity: 68 days
Native: Western Asia, Europe, and North Africa
Hardiness: Frost-tolerant annual
Plant Dimensions: 24"–30" tall
Variety Information: Numerous 3"–3½" pods with 7–9 medium-size peas in each.
Type: Shelling pea
Attributes: Heat Tolerant
~ sowing ~
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 40°F, ideally 60°–80°F and again 10 to 12 weeks before your average first frost date. In Mild Climates, sow in fall or winter for winter harvest. Best grown in temperatures less than 85°F.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended.
Days to Emerge: 5–10 days
Seed Depth: 1"
Seed Spacing: 2"
Row Spacing: 18"
Thinning: Not required.
~ harvesting ~
Picking Peas is easy, but you need to do it at least every other day for best quality and freshness, and to keep production going. Shelling peas should be harvested when the pods are plump, about 3 weeks after flowering. Peas that are too mature are tough and will cause the plant to stop producing; therefore, harvest regularly when pods are at their peak. Use scissors to harvest or hold vine with one hand and pick the pods with the other; vines are fragile.
