Peas

Peas do like cooler temperatures so plant them early when the soil is workable. However, cold and wet soil will only rot the seeds. Sow directly into well drained soil with plenty of organic matter (peat moss mixed into the garden should do just fine, a raised bed garden would be ideal but don't break you back when it's not necessary!). Pea plants are nitrogen fixing so adding fertilizer with high nitrogen levels will be pointless and produces plants with many leaves and few pea pods. Rotate crops to avoid disease and leafy pea plants, tilling the roots into the ground after harvest will make the perfect soil for plants that need nitrogen such as corn.
There are both tall and dwarf varieties of peas both can be trellised but the the tall plants will definitely need support. Tall varieties also need to be planted in rows farther apart from each other (about 4ft) where for the dwarf varieties about 18in is sufficient. Plant in rows keeping the different varieties well spaced and properly labeled. Sow the seeds about 1/2in to 1in deep and 2-3in apart for tall varieties, for low bushy varieties plant seeds 2-3ft apart.
Let's not worry about soaking peas or using inoculants this year, experiments can be done some other time. For now, three of each of the more liked varieties per family should be plenty but you may act according to your discretion. Ask me if you have any further questions. <3, Buccy