Growing Snow Peas, also Sugar Peas, Mangetout, Chinese Peas

Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S S S S S S        
      T T T T T T      
      P P P P P P      

(Best months for growing Snow Peas in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 8 - 10 cm apart
  • Harvest in 12-14 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots, Endive, Florence fennel, Winter lettuce, Brassicas.
  • Avoid growing close to: Chives, Alliums, Tomatoes

Your comments and tips

25 Sep 17, ig (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hello, Does anyone know how many times the snowpea plant flowers? Is it for the one season and only once? Or is it several times in the season?
26 Sep 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
From my experience they flower over several weeks / months therefore producing peas for several weeks / months. As they grow taller they flower more.
25 Sep 17, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
Unlike green peas, snow peas only give one crop, although the fruiting might slightly staggered due to individual growth. Once you harvest the last of the crop, you should see the vines starting to die back. Pull it up.
19 Aug 17, M H (Australia - temperate climate)
Anyone in Melbourne growing carouby de Maussane snowpea?
15 Sep 20, Shirley (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I am in Victoria australia, new house new garden and two plants came up in garden in separate places. I thought when they came up and saw two tone flowers that they were sweet peas. Although much stronger leaves and vines. Looked again today and underneath there are a lot of pea pods. I thought they were normal peas with different colored flowers until I saw the post about these Heirloom snow peas that grow quite large. I opened a pod and seeds inside quite full, so not sure about eating them if they get bigger They either blew here or came in soil mix we brought and put in garden. I do grow normal snow peas these are much stronger. They have been growing there for quite a few months Noticed them about May/June. I was a bit scared to eat them, that is why I started investigating
22 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I grew mammoth melting snow peas from March this year and plants grew 7' high in my own garden. At the school gardens I grew snow peas from Bunnings and only grew about 3-4' high with heaps of peas. I'm going to try Oregon snow peas from seed next year otherwise it will be the Bunnings seedlings in future.
21 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Had a look on the internet and would guess that it is not common in Australia.
02 Jul 17, Man (Australia - temperate climate)
Do I need to replant my snow peas annually?
02 Jul 17, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes. Peas are annuals, meaning the plant only lasts for one season. Your plants will set pods for a few weeks and then die off. If you want more then one crop you need to sow seeds every few weeks. Depending on where you live, you can sow snow or snap peas all year round.
02 Jul 17, Charles (Australia - temperate climate)
Yep, you sure will. They'll die off in the summer, but they're a great cool weather crop, as they "fix" the nitrogen in the soil by taking it from the air and storing it in nodules in their roots.
Showing 41 - 50 of 188 comments

Some varieties grow very tall - I buy Oregon giant from Boondie seeds. Flowers from about 60-80cm high. Beans and peas put N back into the soil, so plant something like lettuce cabbage tomatoes corn.

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