Vegetable · Legume
Snow Peas
Pisum sativum var. saccharatumSnow peas give you the whole flat pod, sweet and crisp, without the fuss of shelling. They climb eagerly in cool spring weather and reward quick, frequent picking with a longer harvest window. The one rule: pick young and flat, before the seeds inside swell and toughen the pod.
Sow depth
1 in
Spacing
2 in · rows 18 in
Sun
Full sun
Germination
7–14 days
Time to harvest
60–70 days
Difficulty
Easy
When to sow snow peas
- Sow from about 4 weeks before your last expected frost until about 2 weeks after your last expected frost.
- Sow from about 13 weeks before the first expected autumn frost until about 11 weeks before the first expected autumn frost.
Direct sow while soil is still cool — snow peas tolerate a light frost well.Sow in a double row so climbing vines can support each other.Firm soil gently over the seed to lock in moisture for germination.
Provide a trellis or netting — vines climb readily once established.Water consistently, especially as pods begin to form.Mulch around the base to keep roots cool through warmer weeks.
Pick while pods are still flat — this is the peak of tenderness.Harvest every couple of days to keep the vines productive.Snap pods off cleanly rather than tugging on the vine.
Companion plants
Like other legumes, snow peas leave nitrogen behind in the soil that benefits leafy crops planted after them.
Watch out for
Pea moth — Moths lay eggs on flowers in warm weather, and larvae bore into pods. Fine mesh over flowering vines keeps them out.