Sugar Snap Pea

Nature & Nurture Seeds

Pisum sativum

$4.49

Pkt(≈50 seeds)
VALUE SIZE: 1/6 lb (≈ 300 seeds)
Certified Organic
62-68 days. Before the Sugar Snap pea, most people grew either snow peas or shelling peas. Snow peas produce edible pods but the interior peas are tiny, and shelling peas contain large peas but the pods are inedible. In the late 60's, Calvin Lamborn crossed the two pea types, producing a pea with an edible pod and large, edible peas. Sugar snap was born! Immediately after its introduction, Sugar Snap gained widespread popularity with gardeners, winning the AAS Gold Medal in 1979. Peas like cool weather. Sugar Snap plants are vigorous and more heat tolerant than snow peas, meaning you can pick them into June. Good for spring or fall planting (see Growing Instructions tab). Pea vines can grow upwards of 6' (be sure to use a sturdy trellis!). Named appropriately, these edible, podded peas are very sweet. Peas are tender while pods are crisp and juicy. Excellent in stir-fries, but we like them best as a spring treat eaten hand-to mouth. (this strain has some variability so expect a few plants that produce snow peas)

Peas are cool weather crops so they should be grown in spring & fall. Sugar Snaps are vining and need a trellis or other support. Peas are normally sown outdoors once the soil temp is at least 40° (around March 27th). Plant along a trellis. Sow seeds in a band 3” wide (3 rows that are 1½ inches apart), with seeds planted 1½” apart and 1” deep. This creates a denser planting than a single row planting and will produce more peas per square foot. Pea seeds germinate very slowly or may rot in overly cold & wet soils. Days to germination: 6-21. Seeds can be started indoors in biodegradable pots at 75° (around March 1st) & transplanted outdoors pot-and-all around March 27th. Plants will finish early (June) so you can sow pole beans below the peas 5/20 or fill space w/ basil or beets. For fall harvest, sow peas July 15th – Aug. 1st. Peas grow best if seeds are inoculated with a pea inoculant at planting.