Austrian winter peas Food Plot Guide

Overview

Austrian winter peas are a cool-season annual legume, a field cousin of the garden pea, and one of the fall forages deer like best. They come up quickly, are high in protein, and fix their own nitrogen. Their weakness is that deer like them too much: a pure stand on a small plot can be grazed to the ground within weeks of emerging. That's why most food plotters sow peas in a blend with oats, wheat or rye, which gives the vines something to climb and spreads out the grazing. Austrian winter peas are hardier than most peas and survive many Southern and mid-South winters, but usually winter-kill in the far North.

New to food plots? Read our beginner's guide for step-by-step planting instructions, or use the Austrian winter peas seed calculator to plan your plot.

Soil & Growing Conditions

Check our planting calendar for the best planting window in your state.

Planting Tips

1. 1

   Inoculate the seed with a pea/vetch-type inoculant if it isn't pre-inoculated. Clover and soybean inoculants won't work.

2. 2

   Planted alone, broadcast 60–80 lbs/acre. In a blend, use 20–40 lbs/acre of peas with 40–60 lbs/acre of oats or wheat.

3. 3

   Plant 4–8 weeks before your first fall frost so the plants are established before cold weather.

4. 4

   Cover the seed. Peas left on the surface get eaten by birds or dry out before they root.

5. 5

   Skip the nitrogen. A no-nitrogen fertilizer such as 0-20-20 is enough, unless the blend includes a grain that needs it.

When to Plant Austrian winter peas by State

Planting windows from each state's average frost dates. Colder parts of a state plant fall crops earlier and spring crops later; open a state for its frost dates and every crop.

Soil Test, Lime & Fertilizer

• Soil test and lime to pH 6.0–6.5 a few months before planting.
• 200 lbs/acre of 0-20-20 at planting. Inoculated peas make their own nitrogen.

Weed Control

• Peas are almost always grown in a grain blend, which rules out most herbicides; the grain canopy is the weed control. Start with a clean seedbed and seed the blend at the full rate.

Herbicides are named by active ingredient as examples, not endorsements. Read and follow the label of the product you buy: it sets the crops it is safe on, the rates, and any grazing or harvest limits, and registrations vary by state.

No-Till & Throw-and-Mow

Drilling works best because pea seed must be covered. Throw-and-mow only works when a heavy thatch covers the seed and rain follows soon; otherwise birds take much of it.

How Big Should a Austrian winter peas Plot Be?

At least half an acre, and more where deer numbers are high, unless you can fence the plot until the peas are established.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Recommended Austrian winter peas Seed Products

Best Paired With

These crops complement austrian winter peas in a food plot rotation or mix:

Frequently Asked Questions