In Regenerative Agriculture we want to use no-till methods as much as possible. Leaving plants in the ground at the end of the season is a great way to protect and feed the soil through the winter. To make use of dead okra plants, sunflowers, or corn stalks, I like to plant vining peas at the base and let them grow up them like a trellis through the fall.
Most peas grow like vines. They are a great fall and winter crop because they fix nitrogen in the soil and are easy to convert into compost or mulch in the spring. Some varieties are more cold tolerant than others, but many can survive a mild frost and may come back in the spring.
Soak the peas overnight before you plant them. Don’t soak them too long or they’ll grow anaerobic bacteria. Soak them in filtered water if you can because chlorine will kill the nitrogen fixing bacteria the peas need to grow.
Plant them one inch deep, close to a trellis or a strong, tall plant stalk. Water every two or three days while they’re growing and producing peas.
Links to More Information
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Peas https://www.almanac.com/plant/peas
Peas for Fall https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/383/Peas-for-Fall/
