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Snap peas are a delicious treat and they’re easy to grow in your garden. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and growing snap peas, including recommended varieties and planting tips.
Folks, I have finally found a miraculous way to get your kids to eat veggies. Set out a bowl of fresh-picked snap peas on the table after school and they’ll disappear faster than you can say, “A la peanut butter sandwiches!” (Hat tip to The Amazing Mumford.)
Snap peas are easy to grow in containers, in the garden, or even in hanging baskets! They’re easy to plant and the kids will enjoy seeing them grow. Plant more than you think you’ll need, because they’ll probably eat them right off the plant.
Growing Snap Peas: Quick Start Guide
| Common name(s) | Snap peas |
| Scientific name | Pisum sativum var. macrocarpum |
| Sun | Full sun |
| Water | Frequent |
| Soil | Well-drained, fertile |
| Hardiness | Cool season annual; US zones 2-11 |
| Fertilizer | Every 2 weeks |
| Container size | 5 gallon or larger |
| Pests | Cutworms, aphids, slugs/snails |
| Diseases | Downy mildew, root rot, fusarium wilt |
| Days to harvest | 60 days |
Types of Pea Plants
What’s the difference between regular (shelling) peas, snow peas, and snap peas?
- Shelling peas (Pisum sativum) are taken out of the pods (shelled) and the pods are not eaten. They’re also called English peas or garden peas, and are usually cooked before eating.
- Snow peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpum) are very flat, with small peas inside. They are eaten whole (pod and all) can be consumed raw or cooked, like in homemade fried rice.
- Snap peas, or sugar snap peas, (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpum) are a cross between snow peas and shelling peas. Like snow peas, they are eaten pod and all. Snap peas can be cooked or eaten raw.
Snap Pea Varieties
As you might expect from a garden geek, I have several favorite varieties of snap pea. Each of them are designed for a different planting application.
Direct sow in the garden: Sugar Daddy. This is a high-yield bush variety that loads up early with double pods of plump, nutty-sweet peas. If you prefer vining peas over bush types, Magnolia Blossom is the way to go.
Growing in hanging baskets (yes, really!): Snack Hero. I tried these last year–they’re tasty and SO fun to grow. Their short vines quickly fill up with dangling, easy to harvest, crunchy-sweet full pods. Snack Hero peas are highly productive, with multiple juicy, plump pods.
Growing with kids: Sugar Magnolia. You guessed it! “Sugar magnolia, blossom’s blooming…she’s got everything I need.” Besides helping to introduce your kids to The Grateful Dead, these vining snap peas produce beautiful, edible purple pods.
Growing in containers: Little Crunch. Little Crunch grows quickly and rewards you with lots of chubby, crunchy-sweet pods that make scrumptious, fresh-from-the-vine snacks. Train the little vines up short supports and they’re even easier to pick.
If you’ve read all this way and realized you’re looking for a shelling pea, try Progress #9–a funny name for a good producer (each pod has between 7-9 peas in it).
Sun, Water, Soil
Snap peas grow during the fall and winter, but they still need several hours of sun each day. They won’t grow well in full or partial shade. Because there are varieties of snap pea for every planting application, you’re sure to find a spot where they’ll flourish.
Snap peas need fertile, loose soil with plenty of phosphorus and potassium. They get nitrogen from the air (cool, huh?) so traditional vegetable fertilizer isn’t needed.
I like to add a bit of E.B. Stone Sul Po Mag and Bone Meal when planting, to provide phosphorus and potassium. Later in the season, they’ll benefit from a bit of homemade compost added to the soil.
Snap peas need consistent water. Protect the moisture in the soil by covering it with a natural mulch, like straw or shredded leaves, after the seeds have germinated. Always water the vines at the base instead of wetting the leaves–this will help prevent powdery mildew.
If you’re growing snap peas in containers or hanging baskets, ensure the container is large and has good drainage. Container plants should only be grown in container soil (not garden soil), and container soil doesn’t have the rhizobium bacteria that helps peas be productive. You can buy soil inoculant powder, which adds these microorganisms to your container soil.
Planting & Spacing
Plant snap peas in early Spring—I start mine outdoors in February or March. Not sure when to plant? A vegetable planting schedule for your area will help with this.
Because snap pea seeds are large and easy to handle, they’re great for kids to plant! They should be planted 1 inch deep and 3-4 inches apart.
There are a few reasons for spreading the plants apart like this:
- When snap peas are too crowded, the roots compete for soil nutrients.
- If one of the plants gets powdery mildew or is infested with pests, the problem will spread quickly between plants.
- If they’re planted too close together, you’ll end up with a giant tangle of peas and will not be able to harvest effectively. Ahem.
The peas will sprout in 7-10 days. If you find that one or two seeds didn’t sprout, don’t fret! Start new seeds as soon as you notice—they’ll catch up.
Pests, Diseases, Companion Plants
There are only a few pests you have to watch out for when growing snap peas. Snails and slugs love to munch on peas, but there are several natural options to get rid of them.
Cutworms can munch your seedlings, so I like to use little TP tube forts around the seeds when planting.
Aphids could be a concern, but I don’t usually see them until the weather gets warmer. Here are lots of natural ways to get rid of aphids.
Because you’re growing in a cool, wetter time of year, watch out for problems like root rot, fusarium wilt, and powdery mildew. Be attentive to watering and plant spacing–if plants are crowded, mildew can spread quickly.
When you’re gardening, some plants grow better together and some should be kept apart. I learned this from Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening, which is a must-read for vegetable gardeners.
Peas grow well with carrots, radishes, corn, beans, potatoes, and cucumbers (they can share a trellis). They do not like to be planted near onions or garlic.
Harvesting
Snap peas are ready to harvest quite soon after planting–most varieties begin producing in about 60 days.
Look for pods with plump, full peas for the best flavor. The vines can be delicate, so snip with scissors or hold the vine with one hand and pick with the other. Pick often for increased yield.
Most of us eat our snap peas right in the garden. If any of yours make it into the house, they’re great in stir-fry, with orange chicken, or dipped in ranch dressing. Enjoy!
