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
    P P                

(Best months for growing Snow Peas in USA - Zone 7a regions)

  • 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 46°F and 68°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 3 - 4 inches 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

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22 Feb 21, Richard (Australia - temperate climate)
This is a somewhat late reply I'm afraid but it may help you in the coming 2021 year. Peas are just pollinated by wind so bees are not required. Giving the flowers a little shake after they form may help but this is unlikely to be your issue if your peas are not very well wind shielded. Mostly I would be concerned that you are posting this in August (peak frost time!) As I understand pea flowers will go sterile if the flowers are hit by frost. I think that this web site is incorrect in advising people to plant peas as early as April. I would recommend not putting peas in the ground any earlier than June. My wife loves peas and so I plant peas twice a year to maximize yield. I put one set down in July and another in September.
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10 Aug 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
See if they will become bigger with time. They don't need bees. The snow peas I grow only take about a week from flowering to grow to about 75-100mm long. I grow giant oregon snow peas from Boondie Seeds. If you start with good rich soil then they don't need more fertiliser.
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11 Aug 20, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
I have heard that using potash should fix this issue, too much nitrogen in the soil/air and they want to grow instead of fruit. Potash should help it to concentrate or flowering/fruiting.
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11 Jul 20, Peter (Australia - temperate climate)
My Mammoth Melting are 2.5m tall - flowers but no pods. Planted 23/4/20. ( long wait) The Oregan Dwarfs (Mr.Fothergills - from Bunnings) planted 25/4/20 are 1.2m - with flowers and pods. ( slower to flower than last batch - I guess due to the cooler weather). Seems the smaller the plant the faster to fruit, with these 2 varieties. My current pickings are from Oregan Dwarfs planted 13/3/20 and have been picking since 1/6/20.
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13 Jul 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
I grow Oregon Giant - from Boondie seeds on the internet.. They grow to about 1.2-1.5m. I tried other varieties but they grew too high.
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06 Jun 20, thorsten stanley (New Zealand - temperate climate)
re problems with snow peas- i may have found the problem; this year I planted earlier and found newly sprouted plants lying on the soil, I suspect it's birds. Having found kakas eating my feijoas ( caught red clawed) it MIGHT be them but suspect european imports as they seem to get past small holes in netting. Now bought many metres of netting and TRY AGAIN! :-)
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08 Jun 20, Anonymous (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I build a trellis 2.1m long and 1.8m high. Put 1.2m stakes in about 500mm from trellis base. Then put netting around the whole thing. 1/2
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30 May 20, Thulani (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi I want to plant these in a hydroponics system. Will they grow and can I do that on a commercial scale.
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01 Jun 20, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Gardenate does not provide information for commercial growers. Try contacting an Agricultural service
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20 Dec 19, Maf (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, I’m in Sydney and it’s really hot here at the moment, and it’s expected to get 40+ degrees most of January. Do you have any advice for keeping my snow pea plants alive? My concerns include scorched leaves, wilting, drought. Also, I use sugar cane mulch to cover to soil. Do you suggest something else or is sugar cane mulch alright. Please reply soon. Thanks.
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Showing 21 - 30 of 215 comments
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Plants can't get nutrients from the air (except carbon, which isn't really a 'nutrient' because it's essential from any growth). They all get nutrients from the soil by some method. Peas and other legumes (plus wattles) have symbiotic bacteria in their roots that 'fix' nitrogen, meaning peas can get at and concentrate soil nitrogen much more efficiently than other types of plants. This means they don't need as much fertiliser as other vegies do and are good to dig into the soil to concentrate plant-available nitrogen for future crops. I assume that they're still pretty hungry for other nutrients though - so a bit of fertiliser won't go astray.

- Antechinus

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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