{"id":13059,"date":"2022-05-16T01:15:29","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T01:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecofamilylife.com\/?p=13059"},"modified":"2024-02-26T01:36:17","modified_gmt":"2024-02-26T01:36:17","slug":"pea-leaves-turning-yellow-top-6-causes-and-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecofamilylife.com\/garden\/pea-leaves-turning-yellow-top-6-causes-and-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Pea Leaves Turning Yellow | Top 8 Causes and Solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The most common causes of yellow leaves on peas are a lack of sunlight, pests, poor soil, diseases like fusarium wilt, underwatering and overwatering. Giving too much water to peas or heavy rainfall can wash nitrogen out of the soil causing the leaves to turn yellow. Pests like aphids and scale can suck the sap from the pea leaves causing them to curl and turn yellow within a few days.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check the leaves carefully for pests and treat the sap suckers with Neem oil. Yellow leaves on peas can be easily fixed and this article will explore what to do to save your plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pea<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Top causes of leaves turning yellow on peas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are the top reasons why pea leaves turn yellow. Check out each one and see if this might be the cause of the problem for your peas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Old lower leaves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common reasons that pea leaves turn yellow is when the leaves start to get old at the base of the plant. These older leaves cab start to turn yellow as the plant grows. This is a completely normal process, and the peas will produce larger green leaves at the top of the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pea
You can see that these plants have developed yellow leaves near the base of the plant but are still growing healthy flowers and new leaves.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These yellow leaves will not cause any harm to the plant and can be left on. The plant will reabsorb the nutrients from these lower leaves and they will eventually shrivel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Lack of nitrogen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common reason that pea pea leaves turn yellow is a lack of nitrogen. While peas are legumes so have the ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere in very poor soils they can still suffer and turn yellow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pea

For peas planted out in a garden bed, sprinkle a handful of pelleted chicken manure around the plant root zone to top up nitrogen levels. You will see the new leaves green up in this time and vine will grow long and green from the ends.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before planting out new pea plants in very poor, sandy soil, mix through compost, aged cow manure and pelleted chicken manure to increase nitrogen levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Overwatering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Overwatering can cause pea leaves to turn yellow. Overwatering will wash nitrogen out of the soil and away from the roots. It can also compact the soil, causing the roots to rot and they won\u2019t be able to get the nutrients they need. Plants that have poor drainage will also develop yellow leaves as the soil stays wet for too long and the wet soil can cause fungal growth on the roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Watering
After planting pea seeds<\/a>, water them once and don’t water again until the shoots appear to avoid rotting the seed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before watering peas check the soil first to see if it is dry 1-2 inches down. Water only when the top soil has started to dry out to avoid overwatering.  Rain water is great for peas as it will contain small amounts of atmospheric nitrogen to help them to develop green leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mulch the plant with bark mulch or straw which will help to regulate the amount of water that runs through the soil. Bark mulch will absorb extra water and slowly release it over time. Slow down your watering schedule and allow time in-between watering for the soil to dry out slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Pest attack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pests can cause pea leaves to turn yellow. Sap sucking insects such as scale or aphids can sit on the leaf veins, sucking out the nutrients and water and causing damage to the leaf. The leaf will eventually turn yellow and then brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Caterpillar
Caterpillars will also visit and can eat holes in your leaves. Pick them off with gloved hands or a stick and move them off your peas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Scale<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Scale are small beetle shaped insects which will suck the sap from your pea leaves. Scale can be treated with Eco or Neem oil effectively. Spray the bugs off with a strong jet of water if there are only a few but check your plant each day because they can quickly breed and take over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aphids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Small green aphids can attack peas sucking their sap and causing leaves to turn yellow. These insects will attack new growth and can appear quickly in the mild fall weather. Ladybugs will move in to eat the aphids if there are only a few. If the population gets large, spray them with Neem oil. Aphids can cause damage to young peas so deal with them quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spider Mites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Spider mites are tiny arachnids that can attack your pea plants. These pests feed on plant sap, piercing pea leaves with their needle-like mouthparts, causing the leaves to turn yellow and eventually leaf drop. When spider mite populations get large they can significantly stunt plant growth and reduce pea yield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get rid of spider mites use an insecticidal soap or Neem oil. Spray the leaves to keep the mites away. Stop spraying your plants 2 weeks before you want to harvest your crop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Underwatering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Underwatering can cause your pea leaves to turn yellow. Peas growing<\/a> in sandy soil can also dry out quickly as the soil is unable to hold the water for long. Unseasonal hot weather can lead to a lack of water for your pea plants, causing the leaves to turn yellow and then brown. These are great cool weather plants but if you get a sudden hot spell, make sure you add extra water to keep the peas happy. A little water regularly is a good way to keep them happy if the weather warms up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Yellow
These pea leaves have started to turn yellow when the plant was allowed to dry out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Regularly water peas if the weather is warm. Consistent water will help to prevent yellowing leaves on peas over spring and summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Lack of sunlight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Peas that do not get enough sunlight can start to develop light green or yellow leaves. Peas will grow best and fastest when they get at least 6 hours of sunlight. This will help the green chlorophyll to develop in their leaves and encourage flowers and peas to form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are growing peas in pots, move them into a position that gets direct sunlight in the morning. This will help the plant to grow faster and photsynthesize efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Fungal disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several diseases that can cause yellowing of pea plants. Fusarium wilt is a common fungal disease that can cause yellowing, dark spots, stunting, and wilting of the entire plant. This disease lives in the soil and can enter through the roots of the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Root rot and powdery mildew are also common diseases that can cause yellowing of the leaves. Crop rotation is a great way to stop peas from being re-infected year to year. Choose a new space in your garden each year for your pea crop to keep them healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fungal infections like powdery mildew, downy mildew, or leaf spot diseases can lead to brown spots and yellowing of pea leaves. These pathogens thrive in moist conditions and can be managed with proper spacing, ventilation, and fungicides if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To prevent diseases, make sure to plant your pea plants in well-draining soil and avoid overwatering. Water your plants at the root zone rather than on the leaves to reduce the chances of fungal growth. You can also use fungicides to help prevent the spread of fungal diseases. You can also remove infected plants as soon as possible to stop fungal disease from spreading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Pea Mosaic Virus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pea mosaic virus can cause the leaves of infected pea plants to turn yellow. Yellowing is a common symptom of mosaic virus infections in peas, along with the characteristic mosaic pattern of light and dark green areas. The yellowing occurs because mosaic viruses disrupt the plant’s ability to photosynthesize efficiently. As a result, affected leaves cannot produce chlorophyll properly, which is necessary for the green color associated with healthy leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prevention is best for mosaic virus as there is no cure. Mosaic viruses are often spread by aphids so controlling them is key. Use insecticidal soaps, Neem oil, or beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings. Get rid of any plants that you think my be infected including any plant debris. Put them in your garbage bin rather than your compost to avoi <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solutions for yellow pea leaves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this section, we’ll discuss some of the most effective ways to combat yellowing pea leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proper watering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Overwatering is one of the main causes of yellowing pea leaves. To prevent this, make sure you’re not watering your plants too frequently. Only water them when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. Make sure your peas are growing in well draining soil as waterlogged soil can also cause yellowing. Use good quality potting soil and improve your garden bed with organic matter before planting pea seeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nutrient management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your pea plants are lacking key nutrients especially nitrogen they can quickly turn yellow. I like to add a handful of pelleted chicken manure a month after planting to feed them as they grow. You can also add an organic liquid fertilizer to give them a nitrogen boost if their leaves start to yellow as they grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disease control<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yellowing pea leaves can also be a sign of disease. To prevent this, make sure you’re planting disease-resistant varieties of peas, examples include Green Arrow, Little Marvel, Sugar Ann, Strike, Early Perfection and disease resistant sugar snap peas. Remove any plants that have been infected and an organic fungicide to help control it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pest management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pests such as aphids and spider mites can also cause yellowing pea leaves. To prevent this, make sure you’re inspecting your plants regularly for signs of pests. If you do notice pests, try Neem oil or horticultural soaps to control them. I also find that a sharp squirt of water from the hose can quickly remove pests from pea leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Move potted pea plants into the sun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your pea plants are in shade, move the pots into a sunny position. They will develop greener leaves and more flowers to give you plenty of peas over the winter season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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