Peas - Sugar Snap

Sugar Snap Peas are the garden's greatest snacking pleasure—their thick, juicy, edible pods snap crisply and deliver a burst of pure sweetness straight from the vine that no grocery store can replicate. Bearing abundantly on climbing vines from spring through early summer, they are one of the season's most eagerly anticipated crops and a perennial family favorite that rarely makes it from garden to kitchen before being eaten on the spot. One of the most rewarding vegetables you can grow.

Growing Instructions: Direct sow in early spring as soon as soil can be worked—peas thrive in cool weather and will not perform well in summer heat. Provide a trellis or support for vines. Harvest pods when plump, firm, and sweet before they overripen and lose tenderness. In mild Pacific Northwest climates, a fall sowing is also very productive.

• Botanical Name: Pisum sativum
• Plant Type: Annual (cool season)
• Planting Time: Early spring (4–6 weeks before last frost); fall in mild climates
• Planting Depth: 1–2 inches
• Spacing: 2–4 inches apart; provide trellis support
• Days to Germination: 7–10 days
• Days to Harvest: 60–70 days
• Vine Length: 4–6 feet
• Light Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Water Needs: Moderate — consistent moisture, especially during flowering
• Difficulty: Easy
• Seed Type: Open-Pollinated
• Tip: Inoculate seeds with pea/bean inoculant for maximum yields