In a small village nestled in the countryside, there lived a young farmer named Rohan. Rohan loved farming and took great pride in growing a variety of crops on his land. He was particularly fond of peas, which were a staple in his family's diet.
One day, while discussing farming with his grandfather, Rohan asked, "Dada, I want to grow peas, but I'm not sure which season is best. Should I plant them in the summer or the winter?"
As the winter months approached, Rohan carefully planted the pea seeds in his field. He watered them regularly and watched over them with care. Soon, the peas began to sprout, and before long, they were ready for harvest. pea is rabi or kharif
Peas are cool-season champions. They despise extreme heat. Here is the exact schedule for a typical pea crop in North India (Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh):
To understand why, we need to look at the three main growing seasons in India: In a small village nestled in the countryside,
If you live in a very cold place, you might get confused. In the hills of Himachal Pradesh or Jammu & Kashmir, farmers often sow peas in and harvest in August-September .
The pea fits perfectly into the Rabi profile due to its specific physiological requirements. Peas are cool-season legumes that thrive in temperate climates. The ideal temperature for their germination and growth ranges between 10°C and 18°C. High temperatures are detrimental to the plant; they inhibit germination and can cause the flowers to abort, leading to poor pod formation. Furthermore, the quality of the pea deteriorates rapidly in heat—the sugars in the seeds convert to starch, resulting in a mealy texture rather than the desired sweetness. Consequently, peas cannot survive the intense heat and waterlogged conditions typical of the Kharif (monsoon) season. One day, while discussing farming with his grandfather,
His grandfather nodded. "That's right, beta. Kharif crops, like rice, maize, and cotton, are grown during the summer months when the weather is warm and there is plenty of rainfall. Rabi crops, like peas, wheat, and barley, are grown during the winter months when the weather is cooler and there is less rainfall."
Unlike Kharif crops (like rice or cotton) that require heavy monsoon rains, peas prefer drier conditions and rely on winter irrigation .