Rondo Sel. Tevere

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Fabaceae or Leguminosae

Order

Fabales

Genus

Pisum

Species

sativum

Description

Belonging to the Leguminosae family like chickpeas, beans and lentils, it is an annual herbaceous plant cultivated for its pods containing seeds rich in protein and vitamins, varying in size and colour depending on the variety grown. Easy to cultivate, it is suitable for temperate climates and prefers well-drained soil as well as balanced fertilisation and irrigation.

Varietal description

Rondo tevere selection is a variety of pea for fresh consumption with wrinkled seeds suitable for open field cultivation. The plant reaches a height of around 80 cm. The pod is straight and contains 10-12 grains. The colour of the pod is deep green. The pod length reaches 11-12 cm. The number of pods per node varies on average from 1 to 2. The cycle is medium late. The variety can be grown both without and with a stake (usually wide-meshed plastic nets). The plant is well adapted to different types of soil.

curiosity and special features

Cultivated for food purposes since Neolithic times, peas are an important source of nutrients; low in calories they provide the body with folates, vitamin B and vitamin C. Fresh, dried, canned or frozen, they are widely used in Italian cuisine both as a food and in the preparation of dishes such as roasts, minestrone and soups. The pea plant is also known as the protagonist of the genetic studies on hereditary traits conducted by Gregor Mendel during the 1800s.

Belonging to the botanical family of Leguminosae, it is also called a 'nitrogen-fixing plant' due to its ability to create a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil, enriching it with nitrogen and making it partly available to other species.

Origin and Diffusion

According to some studies, the species is native to the temperate biomes of the Mediterranean while other research indicates its origin in north-east India. Today, the pea plant is cultivated in all temperate climate zones.

Leaf

The leaves have a paripinnate lamina, typical of many species belonging to the botanical family Leguminosae.

Fruit/product

The seeds are elongated in shape and develop inside a pod, although they contain no seeds. The diameter varies from 0.5 to 0.8 cm, with a weight of 1 to 3 G and a tender consistency. The colouring is unicoloured. Ripening occurs in late spring. The skin is not edible. From a sensory point of view, they are unscented, with a delicate taste and a sweet-and-sour flavour. The variety is characterised by good organoleptic properties and has an overall good quality appearance.

Flowering period

It flowers from early spring to late spring for a duration of 20 to 35 days.

Inflorescence

Inflorescence raceme or cluster enclosing several flowers, the pollen of which is attractive to insects useful for pollination and the preservation of biodiversity such as bees.

Leaf color

Unicolour shades.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.6 to 1 m; depending on the habit and variety, it may be necessary to use supports to promote growth.

Lifespan

Plant grown as an annual.

Suggested planting locations

Suitable for cultivation in beds, open fields

Stem/stem

The stem is herbaceous and the variety has no thorns.

Growth

Variety with medium to vigorous growth.

Plant habit

Plant with erect habitus.

branching

The branching is on the whole average.

pH

The ideal soil pH ranges from slightly acidic to neutral, with optimum values between 6.0 and 7.5.

soil preparation

Before transplanting, it is very important to prepare the soil properly; to this end, it is advisable to dig up the soil about 20/30 cm deep, eliminating any weeds and residues of previous crops, then fertilise the soil and, using a hoe, break up the coarsest clods, and finally, carefully level the surface using a rake. It is also advisable to create a raised bed beforehand by ballasting the soil to ensure proper drainage of excess water, thus avoiding harmful water stagnation. During cultivation, continue to remove weeds in the vicinity of the crop with a hoe so that they do not represent an obstacle to the growth of the seedling.

sun exposure

For best vegetative growth and suitable final production, expose the plant to full sun, sheltered from strong wind.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 10 and 20 °C. The biological temperature is between 4 and 30 °C. It prefers cool temperate climates and shows limited resistance to cold, which differs depending on the variety cultivated.

Use

Plant used in:

Agribusiness

Hardiness

Variety of medium hardiness, beware of aphid and powdery mildew attacks.

Soil/medium

It expresses best growth in medium, deep, fresh and well-drained soil with organic matter.

Maintenance

The cultivation of pea plants is fairly easy, the level of management effort required is medium, taking care to perform correct fertilisation and avoid water stress.

cultivation tips

For proper cultivation, consider the following tips, specific to this pea variety,

Balanced fertilisation Avoid over-watering

Intercropping/combination

Can be grown in intercropping with cress, lettuce and radish. Of considerable interest for its nitrogen-fixing properties in crop rotation with cereals.

planting

An average planting density in open field of 45 plants per square metre is recommended to ensure proper development of each individual specimen with subsequent suitable fruiting. Remove the seedling from its container without damaging the roots by placing it on a raised bed with the collar above the soil surface and irrigating immediately after transplanting, but avoiding water stagnation. Subsequently, depending on the variety grown, use supports that will allow the plant to bind through the cirri and grow vertically.

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pruning

Pruning is limited to harvesting the pods and extracting the seeds.

Reproduction/Propagation

Multiplication is by seed; direct sowing, in spring or autumn depending on the climate, in the open field is often preferred to subsequent transplanting.

Irrigation

Considering the medium to high requirements of the pea plant, it is advisable to intervene with a certain frequency by hand irrigation or by sprinkling or sub-irrigation, increasing the quantities if the climate is hot and dry. When transplanting, assist the seedling so that it takes root properly in the new site, keeping the soil moisture constant but without over-watering, and then allow the soil to dry slightly between irrigation, keeping it not too wet. Do not water the aerial part of the plant during the afternoon/evening. For eventual sowing, it is advisable to moisten the seed before completely burying it.

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Fertilization

The pea plant requires little fertilisation in terms of quantity. It is important to carry out basic fertilisation during soil preparation by incorporating organic or chemical fertiliser into the soil.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Pet friendly

Cooked peas are not toxic to pets, however, consider the specific case and consult with your veterinarian before feeding. They are also used in animal feed both as a protein grain and as fodder.

Edibility for humans

Plant with edible seeds.

Human toxicity

The edible part of the plant, if harvested at the right time and well preserved, does not cause toxicity by ingestion; consider the specific case.

advise 1

The days between sowing (transplanting) and harvesting can be around 100 when referring to spring sowing; when sowing takes place in the autumn from sowing to harvesting it takes around 190 days. The advantage of autumn sowing is that it allows an earlier harvest of 7 to 8 days compared to spring sowing.