How to Grow Wando
Pisum sativum 'Wando'
Wando peas offer a reliable cool-season harvest for gardeners seeking easy-to-grow legumes. These compact varieties thrive in full sun to partial shade, providing fresh pods within two months of sowing while tolerating light frost.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Wando: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Wando is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors rather than starting indoors, as peas develop poorly if transplanted and prefer to be left undisturbed in the garden bed.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before planting. Sow seeds directly outdoors 2-6 weeks before the last spring frost, as this cool-season crop tolerates light cold. Plant seeds about one inch deep to ensure germination within 7 to 14 days. Keep the soil consistently moist during this initial growth phase.
Space plants 2 to 3 inches apart in rows or blocks. Because Wando peas are short, reaching only 12-18 inches tall, they generally do not require tall trellises but may benefit from light support if vines sprawl. Provide one inch of water weekly, ensuring consistent moisture especially during flowering. Apply mulch to retain soil moisture and feed lightly with nitrogen-free fertilizer.
Watch for aphids, pea weevils, thrips, and cutworms; inspect regularly and use insecticidal soap or hand-picking if needed. Prevent powdery mildew by ensuring good air circulation, while avoiding overwatering to stop root rot and bacterial blight. Harvest pods 68-75 days after sowing when they are plump but still tender for best flavor.
When to Plant Wando
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 Wando
✓ Good companions
Both legumes improve soil nitrogen and can be succession planted
Peas improve soil nitrogen for carrots, while carrots' deep roots don't compete with pea's shallow r…
Corn provides natural trellis support while peas fix nitrogen for corn
Peas provide nitrogen for heavy-feeding cucumbers and can share trellises
Benefits from nitrogen fixed by peas and provides living mulch
Repels ants and rodents that may damage pea seeds and pods
Break up soil for pea roots and mature quickly before peas need full space
Thrives in nitrogen-rich soil created by pea's nitrogen fixation
✗ Keep away from
Allelopathic compounds can stunt pea growth and reduce pod production
Competes aggressively for nutrients and can harbor pea weevils
Can inhibit pea growth and nitrogen fixation through root exudates
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
