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Peas are among the oldest cultivated plants in the world, with the earliest finds dating back to the Stone Age. They are still a popular food and feedstuff in Austria. In recent years, however, farmers have had to contend with new challenges and a significant drop in yields. Due to the changed climate, aphids feel particularly at home and can act as carriers of a nanovirus that damages the pea and leads to yield losses.
Usage
In Austrian cuisine, peas are popular as a side dish, in soups, salads, stews or with rice in risi-bisi.
Fresh peas can be frozen, canned or dried. The latter must be soaked for about 12 hours before cooking. The so-called sugar snap peas are harvested before they are actually ripe, when the pods are still flat and the peas are still quite small. They can be eaten raw or lightly steamed.
Peas are characterized by their high protein content and are rich in vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
Peas are also used in cattle, pig and poultry feed as protein feed.
Botany
The cultivated or garden pea(Pisum sativum subsp. sativum L.) belongs to the legume family.
The annual, deciduous or perennial plant grows with its relatively thin stem into a climbing or prostrate plant. Its paired, pinnate leaves run out into a branched winding vine. The individual leaflets can be ovate to broadly elliptical or form tendrils.
The relatively large and long-stalked butterfly flowers emerge from the leaf axils, on which two broad stipules sit. The elongated legume contains 4-10 seeds, also known as peas.
The pea is divided into three subspecies. The most commonly used cultivated form is Pisum sativum subsp. sativum L.. There are four further subspecies depending on their use:
- The field pea has pink to purple flowers and dark brown seeds, which are often spotted or dotted. The crushed, ripe peas of this subspecies are mainly used as animal feed and are also used as green fodder and green manure.
- The pal/shell/brown pea or grain pea has white flowers and yellow or green peas. It is particularly starchy and is therefore suitable for drying (dried peas) and subsequent cooking.
- The seeds of the pigeon pea appear shrivelled when ripe. They taste sweet due to their sugar content and are usually preserved as a tinned or frozen product.
- The whole, fleshy, sweet pods with the still undeveloped seeds are mainly used for edible purposes in the case of sugar peas or sugar snap peas.
Agricultural aspects
In Austria, 6,886 hectares were sown with grain peas in 2024, 14 per cent less than in 2024. The majority of this is grown in Lower Austria, Burgenland and Upper Austria.
Peas are relatively undemanding when it comes to climate. Peas germinate at temperatures as low as 1 to 2 °C. The frost sensitivity or winter hardiness of the young plants ranges from -4 to -10 °C depending on the variety; winter peas are less sensitive than spring peas. A good water supply is particularly important during the flowering period, as otherwise yield losses may occur due to flower drop caused by drought stress. Locations with less than 500 mm of annual rainfall should therefore be avoided for cultivation if there is insufficient winter moisture – stored as soil reserves – available.
Peas prefer medium-textured, deep, well-drained soils free from compaction and waterlogging. For optimal nodule formation, the soil pH should be above 6.2.
As peas are not self-compatible, a rotation period of at least 6 years must be observed. Due to the potential occurrence of Ascochyta, Sclerotinia and Botrytis (grey mould), other legume species, as well as rapeseed, linseed and sunflowers, are also unsuitable as main or catch crops. A preceding crop with good weed-suppressing properties should be chosen to facilitate subsequent weed control. Peas themselves are considered a good preceding crop for winter cereals or summer crops such as maize and sugar beet.
As with many legumes, nitrogen fertilisation is not necessary.
Forage peas are harvested as soon as the entire crop is fully mature and dry, the pods are light brown and the seeds are hard. Sweet peas are harvested whilst still fresh, as soon as the seeds are fully developed and packed tightly together in the pod. Sugar peas are harvested before or shortly after the formation of the pea seeds, whilst the pods are still flat.
Yields are heavily dependent on rainfall and water availability, and decline during periods of severe drought during the growing season. Disease, pest and virus infestations can also significantly reduce yields.
Development of resistant varieties
Pea cultivation in Austria has declined in recent decades, as the aphid-borne Pea Necrotic Yellow Dwarf Virus (PNYDV) has led to significant yield losses.
In our research projects, we have investigated which plants are affected, which aphid species act as vectors and which pea varieties are particularly resistant to the virus.
Last updated: 19.10.2026
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