Provider
Provider is a heirloom pea. Germination takes 7-10 days and fruit ripens from about day 50. Skin runs to medium green pods. Water need is 1 inch per week, consistent moisture for best pod fill. Suits zones 2-11. Bush habit, so it needs no staking. It will crop in a container.

Sowing
Direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost. Plant 1-2 inches deep in cool soil. No support needed.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- 1 inch per week, consistent moisture for best pod fill
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile soil with good organic content
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 3-4 inches
- Height
- 18-24 inches
- Season
- Warm season annual
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Medium green pods
- Size
- 5 1/2"
- Shape
- Bush
- Flavour
- Sweet and tender with classic garden pea flavor
In the kitchen
Fresh eating, cooking, freezing, canning. Shell peas from pods before eating.
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Aphids, pea weevils, cutworms, slugs
- Diseases
- Powdery mildew, root rot, pea enation mosaic virus, downy mildew
- Resistance
- One or more races of Bean Mosaic Virus (High); Powdery Mildew (High)
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | July – August | September – August |
| 2 | — | — | June – August | September |
| 3 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| 4 | — | — | June – July | August – September |
| 5 | — | — | May – June | August – September |
| 6 | — | — | May – June | July – September |
| 7 | — | — | April – June | July – August |
| 8 | — | — | April – May | June – August |
| 9 | — | — | March – April | May – July |
| 10 | — | — | February – April | May – June |
| 11 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
| 12 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
| 13 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
Companion planting
16 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 6 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Protein (g)
- 1.97
- Fat (g)
- 0.275
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 7.41
- Fibre (g)
- 3.01
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 43.9
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.121
- Calcium (mg)
- 40
- Iron (mg)
- 0.652
- Magnesium (mg)
- 28.2
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 41.2
- Potassium (mg)
- 290
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.35
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Provider?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other peas with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Provider suits these too.
- Tom Thumb 50 days
- Sugar Ann 51 days
- Thomas Laxton 55 days
- Sugar Baron 58 days
- Sugar Snap 58 days
- Kelvedon Wonder 60 days