Growing Sugar Snap Peas: Your Guide To These Sweet, Crunchy Delights
I've always loved growing my own food, and growing sugar snap peas has been a delightful addition to my garden and our kitchen. That snap and crunch you get when biting into them, with their refreshing sweet taste, is indeed a fun moment!
Sugar snap peas are a cool-season crop and an annual vegetable, meaning they complete their life cycle in a year. These charming vining plants not only offer delicious pods but also add a touch of lush greenery to any garden space.
Let me share my experience growing sugar snap peas, from planting to harvesting, so you can also grow your own!
Contents:
Why Grow sugar Snap Peas?
Because why not? Growing sugar snap peas is incredibly rewarding!
First, they are versatile in the kitchen—perfect for snacking, adding to salads, or stir-frying. It's one of my favorite things when Ava is playing in the garden and grabbing snacks straight from the plants and vines!
They're also easy to grow and relatively low-maintenance. And since they are a cool-season crop, they can be planted early in the season, providing one of the year's first harvests, or late in summer for a fall crop.
I find that homegrown snap peas' fresh, crisp taste is unmatched by any store-bought version.
The Difference Between Garden Peas, Snow Peas, and sugar Snap Peas
Before getting started, let me explain the different types of peas:
Garden Peas (English Peas): These are the traditional peas where only the seeds are eaten. The pods are discarded.
Snow Peas: Characterized by flat, thin edible pods often used in Asian cuisine.
Sugar snap peas also known as snap peas, are a delightful hybrid of garden and snow peas. They have sweet, crunchy, rounded pods that you can eat whole. They're like nature's candy!
We love growing varieties of sugar snap peas and snow peas in our garden. Below I’ll share some favorite varieties.
Image from University of Arkansas
Types of Snap Peas to Consider
There are a few varieties of snap peas to choose from, each with its unique characteristics.
Sugar Snap
Climbing Vine: Can grow up to 6-feet
Harvest Time: Also quick with 58 days to maturity
Super Sugar Snap
Flavor: Extra sweet with long pods.
Yield: High production with many seeds.
Sugar Ann
Growth: Dwarf variety.
Harvest Time: Quick to mature (51 days).
Space: Ideal for small gardens or containers.
Cascadia
Resistance: Disease-resistant.
Taste: Reliable and delicious.
Peas Little Marvel is my absolute FAVORITE variety. I get it from Baker Creek Seeds. I love it because they are tiny pods and have the perfect crunch. Sugar Daddy Snap is another favorite variety of mine. Extra yummy and crunchy!
When to Plant sugar Snap Peas
Snap peas thrive in cool weather, so timing is key. They can be a fall or spring season crop.
For a Spring Crop
I've learned to plant them in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, which is about four to six weeks before the last expected frost. But don't wait too long to plant them as they don't do well in hot weather.
For a fall crop
I plant them in late summer, around 8-10 weeks before the first expected frost. This way, I can enjoy fresh peas from both spring and fall harvests. Choose varieties that have a shorter maturing time.
READ MORE: Tips for planning a fall garden
Where to Plant Snap Peas
Planting snap peas in the right location is crucial for a successful harvest. Here are some detailed guidelines on where to plant snap peas for optimal growth:
Sunlight Requirements
Snap peas thrive in full sun, so choose a spot that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. They can tolerate some shade, especially in hotter climates, which can help prevent the plants from overheating and improve pod quality.
Soil Conditions
Snap peas prefer soil that drains well to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH of 6.0 to 7.5 is ideal for snap peas.
Enrich the soil with organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure to provide necessary nutrients.
READ MORE: How to use compost in the garden
Garden Layout
Raised beds are excellent for growing snap peas as they offer good drainage and soil warmth.
You can also plant them in rows in a traditional garden setup. Ensure the rows are spaced about 12 inches apart for adequate air circulation and easy access.
READ MORE: Raised beds vs. in-ground garden beds
Crop Rotation
One important thing to keep in mind is not planting your sugar snap peas where other legumes have been planted in the previous two years.
Repeated planting of legumes in the same spot can deplete other essential nutrients in the soil and result in nutrient imbalances that may affect the growth and yield of your pea crops.
Introducing a variety of crops in one spot also helps break pest and disease cycles, reducing the risk of infestation and infection.
Can You Grow Snap Peas in Containers?
Yes, if you're short on garden space, snap peas can be grown in containers. Container gardening with snap peas is a great option for patios or balconies.
However, it can be a bit more challenging since they would still need support. Choose a pot that is at least 12 inches deep and wide, fill it with good-quality potting mix, and support the vines. Just make sure the container is placed where it can receive plenty of sunlight.
You can also rather go with dwarf varieties, which would not need support structures.
How to grow sugar Snap Peas
Growing sugar snap peas is very simple. You can simply directly sow them in your garden beds.
I start by soaking the seeds overnight to speed up germination. Just before planting, you can also dust the seeds with an inoculant that helps with the formation of nitrogen-producing nodules on the plant roots and improves crop production.
To plant the seeds
Till the soil to loosen it a bit.
Work in some compost if you feel your soil may be nutrient-deficient.
Plant seeds about 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart in rows that are 18 - 36 inches apart.
Water the soil evenly and gently with a nozzle or watering can.
Keep the soil evenly moist if you don't get any rain.
Snap pea seeds typically take about 7 to 14 days to germinate after planting if your soil temperatures are between 45°F and 75°F. If it is colder it may take up to 30 days.
Snap Peas Need Support
Snap peas are vining plants, so they need support to grow upward. Providing support helps keep the plants healthy by improving air circulation and making harvesting easier.
I've tried using trellises, netting, and even simple bamboo stakes, all of which work well. Set up your trellis or support structure before you plant to avoid damaging the germinating seeds or young plants.
How long do sugar snap peas take to mature?
Sugar snap peas are relatively quick to mature. Depending on the variety, I typically start harvesting about 60 to 70 days after planting. The pods should be full and crisp, snapping easily when bent.
Regular harvesting encourages more production, so I make it a point to pick peas every couple of days during peak season.
Pick snap peas in the morning, as that's when they are the plumpest. If you can, enjoy them the same day as their taste and texture deteriorate quickly.
How long do sugar snap peas bear fruit?
Snap peas can bear fruit over several weeks, generally ranging from 6 to 8 weeks.
Different varieties of snap peas may have slightly different growing and fruiting periods. Some may produce earlier and for a shorter duration, while others have a longer harvest window. Consistent cool temperatures can also extend the fruiting period.
For a continuous harvest, plant new batches of snap peas every few weeks. This can extend the overall harvest period and provide a more consistent supply of fresh peas.
Saving Seeds for PropAgation
One of the joys of growing snap peas is the ability to save seeds for next year, as many of the varieties are open-pollinated.
I allow a few pods to mature fully on the vine until they turn brown and dry. Once the seeds rattle in the pods, you can harvest these pods.
I then shell them to collect the seeds, which I let dry on a tray lined with a dish towel for a few days.
Store them in a cool, dry place until the next planting season. It's a sustainable practice that keeps the cycle going!
READ MORE: How to save, dry, and store garden seeds for next year
Companion Planting with Sugar snap Peas
Companion planting is a great way to enhance the growth of your sugar snap peas by utilizing the benefits of nearby plants.
This gardening practice can improve soil health, deter pests, attract beneficial insects, and boost crop productivity.
Here are some excellent companion plants you can grow with sugar snap peas and those to avoid:
Beneficial Companion Plants
Carrots: Carrots and snap peas have complementary root systems, with carrots growing deep and peas spreading out shallowly. This helps in efficiently using soil nutrients and space without competition.
Radishes: Radishes can help deter pests like aphids and beetles that may target peas. Additionally, they can break up compacted soil, improving soil structure for pea roots.
Lettuce and Spinach: These leafy greens grow well in the shade of taller pea plants and help suppress weeds by covering bare soil around the base of the peas.
Cucumbers: Cucumbers and peas can share a trellis system, saving space and creating a mutually beneficial microclimate that supports growth.
Corn: Corn provides natural support for climbing pea plants, and peas can fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits corn's heavy nutrient needs.
Marigolds: Marigolds are excellent at repelling nematodes and other pests, and their bright flowers can attract beneficial insects that pollinate peas.
Plants to Avoid Near Sugar Snap Peas
Alliums (Onions, Garlic, Shallots): Alliums can inhibit the growth of pea plants due to chemical compounds they release, which can disrupt pea root development.
Potatoes: Peas and potatoes are susceptible to some of the same diseases, such as blight, and planting them together can increase the risk of spreading these diseases.
Fennel: Fennel can release substances that inhibit the growth of peas and other nearby plants.
Members of the Nightshade Family (Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants): These plants have high nutrient demands and can compete with peas for nutrients, potentially stunting pea growth.
Growing snap peas has been a gratifying experience for me, from the first planting to the last crunchy bite! They’re easy, productive, and a joy to have in the garden.
Whether you have a large garden or just a small balcony, snap peas can add a touch of freshness to your gardening adventures. Give them a try friend—I promise you won’t regret it!
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13 Fall vegetables to plant in summer
10 Winter greens you can plant in fall
A beginner’s guide to growing a successful broccoli harvest
Love, Annette xx