How to Grow Lincoln
Pisum sativum 'Lincoln'
Lincoln is an easy-to-grow heirloom pea variety known for its reliable vigor and resistance to common wilts. Gardeners prize this cool-season crop for its sweet pods that fill out well during the summer months, making it a staple in home gardens across many zones.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Lincoln: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Lincoln is not usually started indoors.
Lincoln is best direct-sown in the garden rather than started indoors and transplanted.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before sowing Lincoln seeds directly outdoors. As a cool-season crop, plant them two to six weeks before your last spring frost date since they tolerate light cold. Push seeds into the ground about one inch deep, where they typically sprout within seven to fourteen days.
Space plants two to three inches apart in rows to encourage air circulation. While Lincoln grows relatively short at 12 to 18 inches, providing a small support can help keep vines tidy. Keep soil evenly moist with about one inch of water weekly, increasing frequency during flowering and pod fill. Apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Watch for aphids, pea weevils, leaf miners, thrips, fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, bacterial blight, and root rot. Prevent issues by ensuring good airflow, avoiding overhead watering, and rotating crops annually. Harvest pods when they reach the desired size, usually 65 to 70 days after sowing for peak sweetness.
When to Plant Lincoln
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 | July – 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 | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Lincoln
✓ Good companions
Peas add nitrogen to soil that carrots need, carrots don't compete for space
Repel aphids and improve overall garden pest management
Benefit from nitrogen fixed by peas when planted in succession
Benefits from nitrogen fixed by peas and provides living mulch
Repel aphids and other pests that commonly attack pea plants
Deters ants and aphids, though should be contained to prevent spreading
Help break up soil for pea roots and mature quickly before peas need full space
Thrives on nitrogen provided by peas and has similar growing requirements
✗ Keep away from
Allelopathic compounds can stunt pea growth and reduce yields
Competes heavily for nutrients and can inhibit pea development
Can inhibit pea growth and nitrogen fixation through root secretions
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
