How to Grow Progress No. 9
Pisum sativum 'Progress No. 9'
Progress No. 9 is a reliable heirloom garden pea known for its sweet flavor and ease of cultivation. Gardeners prize this variety for its ability to thrive in cool weather while providing a nutritious harvest within two months.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Progress No. 9: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Progress No. 9 is not usually started indoors.
This variety is best direct-sown into the garden rather than transplanted, though seedlings started indoors can be moved out gently once all danger of frost has passed.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before sowing. As a cool-season crop, you should plant seeds directly outdoors or start them indoors 2 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow the seeds about one inch deep in rows spaced three to four inches apart. Expect germination to occur within seven to fourteen days once temperatures are suitable.
Space plants carefully to ensure air circulation and maintain a height of twelve to eighteen inches. While this variety is relatively short, providing light support or trellising can improve yield and keep pods clean from soil contact. Water consistently with about one inch per week, increasing frequency during pod development. Apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds without smothering young stems.
Monitor for common pests like pea aphids, cutworms, weevils, and slugs by inspecting plants regularly; use row covers or hand-picking to manage infestations early. Watch for powdery mildew, root rot, bacterial blight, and downy mildew, ensuring good airflow and avoiding overhead watering when possible. Harvest pods sixty to sixty-five days after sowing when they are plump but before they become tough.
When to Plant Progress No. 9
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 | June – 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 Progress No. 9
✓ Good companions
Loosen soil for pea roots and don't compete for nutrients
Repel aphids and improve overall garden pest management
Shallow roots don't compete and benefits from nitrogen fixed by peas
Repel aphids and other pests that commonly attack peas
Repels aphids and ants that can damage pea plants
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Break up soil and mature quickly before peas need full space
Cool-season companion that uses nitrogen fixed by pea roots
✗ Keep away from
Inhibits growth of most garden plants including peas through allelopathy
Allelopathic compounds can stunt pea growth and development
Can inhibit pea growth and nitrogen fixation ability
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
