Growing Guide: Sugar Snap Peas

Preparation

  • Remove all weeds and trash from the planting area.
  • Till the soil 8 to 10 inches deep and rake it several times to break up the large dirt clods.
  • Work the garden soil only when it is dry

How To Grow Sugar Snap Peas

  • Growing sugar snap peas is best when the temperature is 45F (7C) or higher.
  • Peas are a cool-season vegetable and can tolerate light frosts even when the plants are small.
  • Peas can be sown in the spring or fall.
  • Plant your snap peas seeds 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep and 1 inch apart, with 18 to 24 inches between pairs of plants or rows.
  • Mulch around the plants , which will prevent the soil from getting too hot in summer. Mulching also prevents moisture from building up around the roots during a rainfall. Too much sunshine can burn the plants, and too much water can rot the roots.

Harvesting Sugar Snap Peas

  • Pay close attention to the pods and pick when they are swollen. This stage is usually reached 5 to 7 days after flowering.
  • Don’t wait too long because the peas can become tough. Growers find that sampling the peas throughout the growing season helps with determining when to harvest.
  • Remove overgrown pods that you missed earlier to keep the plant blooming and producing longer.

Enjoying Sugar Snap Peas

  • Peas (unlike beans) do not open when they are ripe or have a membrane in the pod; they are meant to be harvested and eaten with both pods and peas.
  • Crunchy pods are delicious and can be plucked and eaten straight from the vine.
  • Sugar snap peas are great in salads while raw, or in stir fries with other vegetables!
  • The pods can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.