Winter pea seeds

Winter pea seeds in professional agriculture

Winter pea seeds are cool-season legumes that establish in autumn, endure winter conditions and resume growth as temperatures rise. This cropping pattern allows our seeds to contribute to nitrogen fixation, soil cover and spring biomass production before the next main crop is planted.

By integrating winter peas into rotations that also include cereals, oilseeds and our hybrid sunflower seeds, farmers can spread workloads, support soil structure and improve nutrient cycling. Our varieties are bred for agronomic robustness and are supported by our agronomic solutions to help secure their performance in the field.

Types and characteristics of our winter pea seeds

Our ranges of winter pea seeds cover types adapted to cover cropping, forage use and, in suitable situations, grain and protein markets. Each type within our ranges is characterised by its level of winter hardiness, growth habit and target use.

Austrian-type winter peas and related forms

Austrian-type winter peas are widely used as cover crops and forage because of their capacity to grow late into the autumn and restart quickly in spring. Our varieties in this segment are selected for winter survival potential, vine growth and compatibility with other cover crop species.

Grain colour, flower type and plant habit

Grain colour and flower type can indicate underlying agronomic and market traits. Our ranges include winter pea varieties with different grain colours and flower expressions, combined with vining or semi-erect growth habits that influence stand structure and harvest options.

Winter hardiness and frost tolerance

Winter peas must withstand low temperatures while maintaining a viable growing point. Our varieties are evaluated for winter hardiness and frost tolerance, and our agronomic solutions help define sowing dates and depths that protect the plant during cold periods.

Agronomic benefits of winter pea seeds

Winter peas bring a combination of agronomic services that make them particularly valuable in diversified farming systems. When correctly integrated, our seeds provide cover, nitrogen input and feed or biomass options.

Nitrogen fixation and soil fertility

As legumes, winter peas fix atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules, reducing the need for mineral nitrogen in the crop itself and contributing to the nitrogen supply of following crops. Our varieties are positioned to support this function in rotations where cereals and oilseeds benefit from residual fertility.

Cover crop, forage and wildlife uses

Winter pea seeds can be sown alone or in mixtures to protect the soil, produce biomass and offer forage or habitat. Our ranges include options that provide ground cover, grazing potential and attractiveness for wildlife when this is part of the farm objectives.

Protein and feed value in rotations

Depending on the variety and management, winter peas can also contribute to on-farm feed systems or local protein sources. Our varieties are characterised for their protein potential and biomass production so that they can be aligned with feed or green manure uses according to farm priorities.

• Our varieties contribute to nitrogen fixation and improved soil fertility across rotations.
• Our ranges provide winter ground cover to limit erosion and nutrient losses.
• Our seeds can support forage, wildlife and biomass objectives alongside cash crops.

Sowing and management of winter pea seeds

Successful winter pea crops depend on correct positioning, sowing parameters and adapted management during autumn and spring. Our agronomic solutions are designed to help farmers define these settings for each field.

Sowing window and soil preparation

Winter peas are generally sown after summer crops when soil moisture is sufficient for emergence and before the onset of severe cold. The objective is to obtain plants with a well-developed root system and moderate above-ground biomass going into winter, and our varieties are chosen to fit these autumn sowing periods.

Seeding depth, density and equipment

Depth and density are key parameters for winter survival. Our seeds are typically sown deeper than spring peas in order to protect the growing point, and densities are adjusted to balance ground cover, winter hardiness and disease risk. Seed drills capable of placing seeds at a stable depth with good soil–seed contact are recommended for our ranges.

Fertilisation and inoculation

Mineral nitrogen applications are generally limited for winter peas, with attention focused on phosphorus, potassium and sulphur based on soil analyses. Where necessary, inoculation and attention to soil biology can support nodulation and nitrogen fixation, and our agronomic solutions integrate these elements into fertilisation plans.

Weed, disease and lodging management

Weed control, disease pressure and lodging risk must be considered when designing winter pea systems. The architecture and growth habit of our varieties, combined with adapted sowing densities and rotation intervals, are intended to reduce these risks, while our agronomic solutions support integrated management strategies.

Harvest options and termination of winter peas

Winter peas can be terminated mechanically or chemically in a cover crop context, or taken through to grazing or harvest according to the system design. Our ranges include varieties suited primarily to cover and forage uses as well as options that can be directed towards grain or silage when the technical route allows.

• Our seeds should be sown in prepared seedbeds that avoid compaction and standing water.
• Our varieties perform best when sowing dates match local autumn temperature and moisture conditions.
• Our agronomic solutions help adjust depth, density and termination method to each farming system.

Our winter pea seed ranges and positioning

Our ranges of winter pea seeds are structured by target use and agronomic profile so that each farming system can select the option that best fits its needs. Within each segment, our varieties are described according to winter hardiness, biomass production and potential outlets.

Our varieties for cover crops and green manure

Winter peas used as cover crops or green manure focus primarily on soil protection, nitrogen fixation and organic matter inputs. Our varieties targeting these uses are selected for rapid autumn establishment, ability to withstand winter conditions and good regrowth capacity in spring.

Our varieties for forage and grazing

Some of our winter pea varieties can be grazed in mixtures or harvested as forage or silage. These varieties are characterised for biomass production, palatability and regrowth potential, and are often combined with other species to provide a balanced forage resource.

Our varieties for grain and protein markets

Under suitable conditions, certain winter pea varieties may be taken through to grain harvest for feed or local protein markets. In this segment of our ranges, attention is given to grain yield, quality and maturity profiles compatible with regional harvest calendars.

Integration with our hybrid sunflower seeds and our oilseed varieties

Winter peas interact with other crops in the rotation, including cereal breaks and subsequent oilseeds. Our hybrid sunflower seeds and our oilseed varieties can follow winter peas in rotations that aim to combine soil services, nitrogen utilisation and economic performance across the farm.

• Our ranges distinguish cover-focused, forage-oriented and grain-capable winter pea varieties.
• Our varieties are positioned to complement cereals, oilseeds and other legumes in rotations.
• Our agronomic solutions help define which segment of our ranges fits each field objective.

Research, varietal creation and our agronomic solutions

The performance of winter peas depends heavily on genetics and on their interaction with local climates. Our varieties result from targeted varietal creation and evaluation programmes that focus on the specific constraints and opportunities linked to winter growth.

Varietal creation and trial networks in winter peas

Our breeding work on winter peas aims to combine agronomic robustness, winter hardiness and yield or biomass potential. Candidate lines are evaluated over several seasons in contrasting environments, and only those that demonstrate consistent behaviour are integrated into our ranges.

Multi-year evaluation of winter hardiness and yield

Winter survival, flowering dates and overall productivity are monitored through multi-year trials. This long-term evaluation helps us understand how our varieties react to different winters and spring conditions, and supports reliable positioning of our products in each region.

Our agronomic solutions to support winter pea crops

To complement our seeds, we provide agronomic solutions that address sowing dates, densities, mixture design, fertilisation and rotation planning. These references are built from trial data and field feedback and are used to help farmers integrate winter peas into their systems with controlled technical and economic risks.

• Our varieties are developed through dedicated winter pea breeding and testing programmes.
• Our ranges are validated in contrasting regions to ensure robust performance.
• Our agronomic solutions translate trial results into practical guidelines for farmers.

Winter pea seeds: questions from the field

Farmers considering winter peas often raise similar technical questions. The answers below provide general guidance that should be combined with local advice and the specific characteristics of our varieties and our ranges.

How are winter pea seeds different from spring pea seeds?

Winter pea seeds are bred to be sown in autumn, establish before winter and restart growth in spring, whereas spring pea seeds are sown later and do not overwinter. Winter types focus on cold tolerance and growth habit adapted to winter conditions, while spring types emphasise flexibility of sowing date and warm-season development.

Which uses are best suited to our winter pea varieties?

Most winter pea systems focus on cover cropping, green manure, forage or wildlife uses, while some varieties can also be harvested for grain in suitable regions. Each variety in our ranges is described according to its main target uses so that farmers can align species choice with their objectives.

When should winter pea seeds be sown for good establishment?

Winter peas are usually sown after the warmest part of summer, when soil moisture has returned and before the onset of severe cold. The exact window depends on region and soil, and our agronomic solutions propose reference periods that maintain a balance between autumn growth and winter hardiness.

How deep should winter pea seeds be planted?

Winter pea seeds are typically planted deeper than spring peas in order to protect the growing point from frost and surface fluctuations. Recommended depth ranges are defined for each context, and our agronomic solutions adjust these guidelines to local soil conditions and equipment.

Can winter peas be mixed with other cover crop species?

Winter peas are frequently sown in mixtures with cereals, brassicas or other legumes to combine rooting patterns and canopy structures. Our ranges of winter peas are chosen to be compatible with such mixtures, and mixture design is one of the aspects covered by our agronomic solutions.

What are the main risks associated with winter peas?

The main risks include insufficient establishment before winter, extreme frost events without snow cover, excessive autumn growth leading to vulnerability, and spring disease or lodging. Correct choice of variety, sowing date and density, guided by our agronomic solutions, helps reduce these risks.

How long can winter pea seed lots be stored?

When stored in cool, dry and stable conditions, winter pea seed lots maintain viability for standard storage durations similar to other pea seeds. Storage recommendations are provided with our products so that the qualities of our seeds are preserved until the planned sowing period.

Do winter peas fit into conservation or regenerative systems?

Winter peas fit well into conservation and regenerative farming approaches thanks to their contribution to soil cover, nitrogen input and biological activity. Our varieties can be integrated into such systems alongside other species, and our agronomic solutions help adapt management to each set of objectives.