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 P              

(Best months for growing Snow Peas in USA - Zone 5a 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

12 Jun 17, Sean (Australia - temperate climate)
I would spray them with Nature Way - caterpillar killer. This spray is natural, easy to use, and harmless to everything but caterpillars.
21 May 17, Craig (Australia - temperate climate)
The cooler the better for snow peas. Mine are 5 ft tall and no flowers at 7 weeks grown from seeds from last years crop. Drops to 9c at night and July august is 0-6. Dosen't faze them.Good rich soil with blood and bone and a bit of ozmacote and seaweed fertilizer gets them going like beasts. I was still picking heaps of peas in September last year. good stringing and trellis is very important. once they are going only the possums will stop them.They are a tougher plant than they look.
23 May 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A couple of my earliest planted snow peas are starting to yellow off - planted seed back in mid Feb. Soil is rich and they receive plenty of water. My plants go yellow and mildew by about August. I usually only plant one crop a year but have another following this year. About 6 weeks old and 2' high now - growing well. Temps are in the 13-17 C area at the moment - will go down into high teens in July and August. Days around 26 now and down to low 20's in the future. I grow mine on wire netting 6' high.
06 Jun 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My second lot of snow peas are now over 4' high and no sign of flowers yet. They are mammoth melting. Think I might try Oregon variety next year. A smaller bushier plant. I had corn growing in this area before the peas. I put some compost/mulch in the corn rows and also kitchen scraps. Dug the corn out and put a bit of fertiliser on it. Looks like it has too much nitrogen. Did read the other day not to put too much N on them.
12 May 17, Lizi Hofer (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My snow peas look great about 1 meter tall, but no flowers? They are under netting. Could this be the problem?
04 Jul 17, Man (Australia - temperate climate)
Maybe it is 2 hot
12 May 17, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
How long have they been growing? Perhaps too early for flowers.
14 May 17, Lizi Hofer (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Darren, They are about 1 month old.
14 May 17, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Liz, A dose of potash might encourage some early flowering, otherwise they should flower in time.
17 May 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I had a bit of the same problem this year. Normally I have flowers when the plants are 2' high. Didn't get them this year until 3-4' high'. Had to replant most of them - birds eat them so I put up netting - they grew a bit spindly. Had heaps of rain in March so hit them up with a bit more fertilizer. And the weather changed from day temps of 32-34 to 25-27C. They are now on their way to the moon - first few are 7' high now. I'm picking peas now. I would say I over fertilised them.
Showing 71 - 80 of 215 comments

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! :-)

- thorsten stanley

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