Sugar Snap Pea

Fabaceae

Eat whole pod with peas — plump, sweet pods. Hybrid of garden pea × snow pea (developed 1970s). Bush (2-3 ft) or pole (5-6 ft) types. Tolerates light frost to 28°F. Heat above 80°F = flower drop and rapid decline. Plant 4-6 weeks BEFORE last frost. Super Sugar Snap: mildew-resistant, 6 ft vines. Cascadia: 65 days, disease-resistant.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

55–70 days

Sun

6+ hours

Container

Yes

2+ gallon pot

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 7–14 days

Optimal Temp 60°F

Seed Depth 1"

Watering

Weekly Water 1 "

Needs Moderate

Soil

pH Range 6–7

Resilience

Heat: Low Cold: Medium Drought: Medium

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Light feeder

Harvest

Pods nearly full (peas swelling inside), pod walls still tender and edible. Sweet and crunchy, not starchy.

Storage Pick frequently once pods fill; quality is best immediately after harvest.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Nantes carrot Common companion pairing in charts; efficient use of space with different root zones.

Cherry belle radish Often paired as a short-season intercrop; can help with spacing/bed use.

Spinach Cool-season crop that can share bed/season timing with peas.

Nasturtium Often listed as a pea companion in extension/UC Master Gardener charts.

Marketmore 76 cucumber Often listed as a compatible companion in charts; similar season timing in many regions.

Avoid Planting Near

Green onion scallion Allium family is commonly listed as a poor companion for peas/beans.

Softneck garlic Allium family is commonly listed as a poor companion for peas/beans.

Sources

university Wisconsin Horticulture Extension university Illinois Extension seed_catalog Seeds 'n Such university University of Minnesota Extension — Peas university UC Master Gardener Program (UC Davis) — Companion Planting Chart

More Vegetables

Sugar Snap Pea Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Sugar Snap Pea vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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