Organic Vegetable Garden (OVG), February 15: Finally, we’ve had a little winter, but our thoughts are turning to planting—particularly peas (Pisum sativum) in the demonstration Organic Vegetable Garden at Potomac Overlook Park on Marcey Street in North Arlington, VA. We will begin paying attention to the weather forecast, but we have had luck planting peas at the end of February or beginning of March. Peas will germinate in soil between 40-45 degrees and 75 degrees, but because peas really don’t like our hot summers, the trick is to get them in early enough that they will bloom and produce before the heat begins. There are three basic types of peas: shelling peas, snow peas, and snap peas. Something to keep in mind is that bush peas do not need the support that climbing varieties do and therefore may be easier to manage in the home garden. We’ve had good luck with sugar snap peas in the OVG–and a real incentive to growing these is picking and eating them right in the garden!