When to Plant Tender Pods

Snap Beans

• Formerly known as string beans, modern varieties are now referred to as "snap beans." Available in blue-green, yellow or purple, snap beans feature crunchy, thick, stringless pods that can be eaten when young and slender, or left on the vine to fatten and mature. In the North, bean seeds should be sown on or around the anticipated date of the last spring frost; in the South, bean seeds can be planted twice, once in early spring for a summer crop and once more in mid- to late summer for a fall harvest.

Okra

• Okra is a heat-loving tropical that is popular throughout the South. The plant has no tolerance for cold weather; however, its short growing season makes cultivation in northern gardens possible. For the best results, sow okra seeds four weeks after the average date of the final frost in the North or anytime from mid-April to August in the South. The edible seedpods will be ready to pick about 50 days after planting.

Peas

• Store-bought peas cannot compete with the sweetness and flavor of those grown in the home garden. That being said, those who do not wish to spend hours on end shelling peas often choose to grow sugar snap peas or snow peas. The tender, sugary pods offer up the same sweet flavor without all the work. Unlike beans and okra, peas require cool weather to be productive and often stop growing when the summer heat arrives. In the North, plant the seeds in the spring, as soon as the ground can be turned over, and again in the early fall. In the South, sow the seeds in the fall. Plant early for an abundant crop or at two-week intervals for a continuous harvest.

Growing Tips

• When growing peas and snap beans, do not use high-nitrogen fertilizers. The plants house nitrogen-producing bacteria in their roots; consequently, adding extra nitrogen to the soil can decrease yields, rather than producing a bumper crop. Additionally, take care not to overwater plants; while all tender pods respond poorly damp conditions, okra is particularly sensitive to wet soil.