Ive 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!
Growing snap peas from seed is an easy and rewarding way to enjoy fresh peas right from your garden. These crunchy and sweet peas are a treat eaten straight off the vine. With just a bit of garden space and some simple steps, you can grow a bountiful crop of snap peas.
Snap peas are a relatively new type of garden pea They were first bred in 1952 by crossing snow peas with shelled peas This resulted in a pea with edible pods like snow peas, but with the plump peas and sweet flavor of English peas.
The pods of snap peas are crispy, juicy and delicious. They are thicker than snow pea pods and rounded rather than flat. When picked at peak maturity, the pods make an audible snapping sound when broken in half – hence the name snap peas.
Popular snap pea varieties include:
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Sugar Snap – the original snap pea with 6 foot vines Matures in 58 days
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Sugar Ann – early maturing dwarf variety with 2 foot vines, Ready in just 51 days
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Super Sugar Snap – disease resistant with shorter 5 foot vines. Matures in 61 days.
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Honey Snap – produces golden yellow pods.
When to Plant Snap Peas
Snap peas thrive in cool weather. They are frost tolerant and one of the first crops planted in spring once the soil can be worked. Ideal soil temperature for planting is 50°F to 68°F.
In northern regions:
- Plant in early spring 4-6 weeks before the last frost.
In southern regions:
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Plant in late winter or early spring.
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Plant again in late summer for a fall harvest.
Avoid planting snap peas in mid summer when temperatures are hot.
Choosing the Best Spot to Plant
When selecting where to plant your snap peas, keep these tips in mind:
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Sun: Snap peas need at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Morning sun is ideal.
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Soil: They prefer loamy, fertile soil with lots of organic matter. Ideal pH is 6.5-6.8.
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Drainage: Good drainage is a must. Avoid soggy sites.
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Rotation: Don’t plant peas where beans, peas or other legumes grew the past 2 years.
You can grow snap peas directly in garden beds, raised beds, or containers at least 12 inches wide and deep. Make sure to set up trellises or fencing before planting vining varieties.
How to Plant Snap Peas from Seed
Planting snap pea seeds directly in the garden is quick and easy:
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Prepare soil by mixing in 1-2 inches of compost or well-rotted manure.
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Sow seeds 1 inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows spaced 18-36 inches apart.
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Water gently after planting to moisten soil without displacing seeds.
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Expect sprouts to emerge within 7-14 days.
Some tips for improved germination:
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Soak seeds overnight before planting. This softens the seed coat.
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Dust seeds with inoculant which aids root development.
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If sowing in pots, use new potting mix and add granular organic fertilizer.
Caring for Your Snap Pea Crop
Snap peas are relatively carefree once established. Follow these tips for healthy, productive plants:
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Water: Keep soil consistently moist, providing 1 inch of water per week if rain is lacking.
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Weed: Remove competing weeds, being careful not to damage shallow pea roots.
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Fertilize: Usually not necessary in fertile garden soil. Use liquid fertilizer when growing in containers.
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Support: Set up trellises for vining varieties before planting. Help redirect any wayward tendrils.
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Pests: Watch for slugs, snails, deer, rabbits, aphids and pea leaf weevils. Remove by hand or use insecticidal soap if severe.
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Diseases: Improve air circulation and practice crop rotation to prevent powdery mildew. Ensure soil isn’t soggy to avoid root rot.
How to Harvest Snap Peas
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Begin harvesting snap peas once pods swell and reach 2-3.5 inches long, depending on variety.
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Use garden shears to clip pods from vines, being careful not to tug.
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Pick in the morning when pods are plumpest. Eat soon after picking for best flavor.
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Harvest every 2-3 days to encourage further pod production.
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Stop picking once pods mature and peas begin bulging inside pods.
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Enjoy pea shoots and tendrils as well!
Tips for Growing Multiple Crops
You can easily grow successive plantings of snap peas for an extended harvest:
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Make small, staggered plantings every 2-3 weeks from early spring through late summer.
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Mix early and late maturing varieties.
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Intercrop fast growing greens like lettuce between pea rows.
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Grow bush types in containers for easy repeat harvests.
Best Varieties for Gardens
Some top-rated snap pea varieties include:
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Sugar Snap – the snap pea standard with 6 foot vines and 3 inch pods.
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Sugar Ann – early dwarf type perfect for containers. 2 foot vines.
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Super Sugar Snap – improved disease resistance and shorter 5 foot vines.
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Magnolia Blossom – eye-catching purple flowers and crisp 2.5-3 inch pods.
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Sugar Daddy – dwarf bush-type that grows just 2-2.5 feet tall without support.
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Snak Hero – compact variety suited to hanging baskets. Pods resemble snap beans.
Growing Snap Peas in Pots
You don’t need an expansive garden to grow snap peas. Use these tips to grow snap peas on a balcony, patio or deck:
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Select a pot or planter at least 12 inches deep and wide.
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Ensure container has drainage holes and use fresh potting mix.
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Choose a dwarf bush variety that grows under 3 feet tall.
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Add a tomato cage or attach vertical supports for tendrils to climb.
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To maximize harvests, stagger plantings every 4 weeks.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Growing snap peas from seed is typically problem-free but watch for these potential issues:
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Poor germination: Soak seeds before planting and keep soil moist. Replant if sprouts don’t emerge after 2 weeks. Ensure soil temperature is at least 50°F.
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Plants dying: Check for signs of fungal disease like root rot or wilt. Improve drainage and avoid overwatering.
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Powdery mildew: Increase air circulation around plants. Water at the base of plants rather than from overhead.
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Slugs and snails: Remove by hand or set out beer traps. Use diatomaceous earth around plants.
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Aphids: Knock off with a strong spray of water. Apply insecticidal soap if infestation is severe.
Final Thoughts on Growing Snap Peas
Growing snap peas from seed is easy and fun – perfect for beginner gardeners! With a bit of sun, decent soil and proper sowing, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest. Pay attention to plant spacing, provide supports for climbing varieties, and pick frequently once pods start to swell. Stagger plantings for months of sweet, crunchy snap peas fresh from your backyard.
Soak Sugar Snap Peas Before Planting to Aid Germination
Ive found that soaking my peas for 12 to 24 hours immediately before planting gives me the most success with germination (just a fancy way of saying seeds sprouting). To make the video above, I soaked my peas for just a couple hours, and even that made a big difference.
The reason to soak peas is to speed the process of germination along. Seeds have seed coats to protect themselves. Seeds are smart, you see, and they want to keep themselves alive and safe, which means not sprouting at the wrong time. Seed coats help to prevent that, and peas have particularly thick seed coats.
Soaking pea seeds speeds the germination process by helping to remove this coat. Water is what penetrates the seed coat and tells the seed inside to wake up. Youll notice the seeds beginning to swell with water, and this is exactly what you want. Seeds have to keep filling with water until they literally burst open and produce a little pea shoot.
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. Its one of my favorite things when Ava is playing in the garden and grabbing snacks straight from the plants and vines!
Theyre 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 years 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.
Want To Grow Sugar Snap Peas? My Tips
FAQ
How long does it take to grow snap peas from seed?
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Azure Farmhttps://www.azurefarmlife.comGrowing Sugar Snap Peas: A Guide To These Crunchy Delights!Aug 8, 2024 — Harvest Time: Quick to mature (51 days). … Snap pea seeds typically take about 7 to 14 days to germinate after planting if your soil temperatures a…
Do sugar snap peas need to climb?
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Healthy Growth:Providing support helps the plants grow upright, which improves air circulation and prevents them from sprawling on the ground, which can lead to issues like fungal diseases.
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Easier Harvesting:When the plants are supported, it makes it easier to find and harvest the pods.
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Optimal Development:Sugar snap peas use their tendrils to attach to supports. If they can’t find a secure attachment, the plant might stop growing or produce fewer pods.
How many sugar snap pea seeds per hole?
- Spacing: Plant seeds 1-2 inches apart within the row. Rows should be spaced 18-24 inches apart, or double rows can be spaced 8-10 inches apart within pairs.
- Depth: Plant seeds 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep.
- Groups: Sugar snap peas can also be planted in groups of 3 seeds per hole.
- Watering: After planting, water well and keep the soil moist, especially during germination.