How to Grow Bistro Peas From Seed

Do Bistro peas need a trellis?

Not much. Bistro is a compact bush pea on short vines, so it needs little support. A low row of twiggy brush or a short trellis keeps the pods clean and makes picking easier, but the plants largely hold themselves up, which is part of what makes this variety so easy to grow.

When do I plant Bistro peas?

Peas are a cool-season legume, so direct sow Bistro in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, several weeks before your last frost. You can also plant a fall crop in late summer where autumns are mild. Bistro is an early variety, so it produces quickly before summer heat arrives.

How do I know when Bistro pods are ready to pick?

As a shelling pea, pick the pods once they look plump and rounded with the peas swelled inside but still tender and sweet, usually around 55 to 65 days. Pick regularly, because frequent harvesting encourages the plants to keep producing. Pods left too long turn starchy and tough.

Why choose Bistro over a tall pea variety?

Bistro is prized for being compact and early, making it ideal for small gardens, raised beds, and containers where tall climbing peas would be awkward. The short, productive vines need little staking and give you a quick, tidy harvest of sweet shelling peas without a big support structure.