Field Peas as a Cover Crop
Legume cover crop
Field peas (Pisum sativum, including the types often called Austrian winter peas) are a cool-season annual legume grown as a cover crop rather than for a market harvest. Gardeners and small farmers use them to build soil and hold ground between cash crops. They establish quickly and pair well with a small grain such as oats or rye.
Benefits
As a legume, field peas work with soil bacteria to take nitrogen from the air and fix it in root nodules, which can add nitrogen to the soil as the residue breaks down. Their fast, leafy growth shades the ground, which helps suppress weeds and reduce surface erosion. The vines and roots return organic matter that feeds soil life and supports better structure over time. Their blossoms can also draw pollinators and beneficial insects when the crop is allowed to flower.
When to plant
Plant field peas in cool weather: early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or late summer to early fall for a fall stand. Cold-tolerant winter types can overwinter in milder regions, while spring types are usually grown for a single cool season. A common approach is to broadcast or drill the seed into a firm, moist seedbed and cover it lightly, and your local Cooperative Extension can suggest a suitable seasonal window and general seeding range for your area.
Growing it
Field peas prefer cool, moist conditions and well-drained soil, and they grow as sprawling vines that climb over one another or over a companion grain. They tolerate a range of soils but do best where drainage is good and standing water is avoided. Mixing them with an upright small grain gives the vines support and can improve overall biomass and weed cover.
Ending the cover crop
Terminate field peas before or around flowering to capture the most nitrogen benefit and to prevent volunteer seed. Common non-chemical methods include mowing, using a roller or crimper to flatten the vines, or turning the residue into the soil with light tillage. In colder regions, spring types and some winter stands will winterkill on their own, leaving a mat of residue on the surface.
Best for
Field peas suit gardeners and small farmers who want a quick cool-season legume to add nitrogen and organic matter, especially ahead of a nitrogen-demanding crop. They are a good fit for spring or fall gaps in the rotation and for growers who prefer to terminate a cover crop without chemicals.
General guidance for US growers. Seeding rates and regional mixes vary; your local Cooperative Extension office and NRCS can help you plan. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.