How to Grow Alderman
Pisum sativum 'Alderman'
Alderman is an heirloom garden pea variety known for its reliable vigor and sweet flavor. Gardeners prize this cool-season crop for its ability to thrive in cooler weather while providing a nutritious harvest before summer heat sets in.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Alderman: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Alderman is not usually started indoors.
This variety is best direct-sown into the garden rather than started indoors and transplanted.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Sow seeds directly outdoors two to six weeks before your last spring frost date, as this is a cool-season crop. Plant the seed about one inch deep. Germination typically occurs within seven to fourteen days once conditions are favorable.
Space plants three to four inches apart in rows to encourage air circulation. While short varieties may not need tall trellises, providing support helps prevent lodging. Maintain consistent moisture by watering about 1.5 inches per week. Apply a light mulch to retain soil moisture and feed the soil with balanced fertilizer if growth seems slow.
Watch for aphids, pea moths, thrips, and birds; use row covers or netting to protect developing pods from pests. Prevent powdery mildew by ensuring good airflow and avoiding overhead watering in humid conditions. Harvest the tender pods seventy to eighty days after sowing when they are plump but before seeds fully develop inside.
When to Plant Alderman
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | August – September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | August – September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | June – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | April – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | March – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | March – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | March – December |
Companion Plants for Alderman
✓ Good companions
Peas improve soil nitrogen which carrots need, carrots don't compete for space
Peas provide nitrogen that corn needs, corn provides natural trellis support
Benefit from nitrogen fixed by peas, can use pea trellises after harvest
Benefits from nitrogen fixed by peas, provides ground cover to retain moisture
Repel aphids and other pests that commonly attack peas
Act as trap crop for aphids, repel cucumber beetles and squash bugs
Break up soil for pea roots, mature quickly before peas need full space
Thrives in nitrogen-rich soil created by peas, cool-season compatibility
✗ Keep away from
Allelopathic compounds can stunt pea growth and reduce yields
Competes heavily for nutrients and can harbor thrips that damage pea plants
Can inhibit pea growth and nitrogen fixation through root secretions
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
