Sugar Snap Pea — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon 'Sugar Snap' |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 7–14 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 4.4–21.1 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 60–70 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 5.1–10.2 |
| Mature height (cm) | 121.9–182.9 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 10.2–20.3 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 3–10 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Direct sow 1 inch deep in loose, well-drained, fertile soil in full sun with a trellis or fence for the tall vines; Sugar Snap Pea was bred by Calvin Lamborn and introduced in 1979, winning the All-America Selections award and transforming the edible-pod pea category — it combined the thick, succulent, fleshy pod of snow peas with the full, plump, sweet peas inside, creating a pod that is outstanding eaten raw, pod-and-all, with no tough strings to remove at the right harvest stage. The crisp snap when a mature pod is broken — and the burst of sweetness from the swollen peas inside — made Sugar Snap immediately distinctive from flat snow peas. Harvest when pods are round and full but still bright green before the pod skin begins to wrinkle; at this stage the natural sugars are at their peak. Overmature pods develop a tough string along the suture and the peas inside become starchy. In zone 9 Sugar Snap pea is primarily a January–April crop that provides the most rewarding fresh vegetable of the cool season.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0