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How to Grow and Care for Garden pea

Garden pea, also known as Green pea, Sugar snap pea, Snow pea, English pea, Sweet pea, Snap pea, Mangetout

Garden pea thrive in cool seasons with adequate sunlight exposure, making them relatively easy to care for. These plants need loamy, well-draining soil and consistent moisture, without waterlogging. Special care points include providing support such as trellises for climbing varieties to ensure proper growth and avoid diseases. Regular harvesting when pods are young ensures a continuous yield and better flavor.

Watering schedule: Twice per week

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Garden pea

Toughness	Medium
Care Level	Medium
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Annual, Biennial
Watering Schedule	Twice per week
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	6-7
Planting Time	Early spring, Mid spring, Mid fall, Late fall
Hardiness Zones	2-11

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Varieties of Garden pea

Garden pea 'Early Onward'

As you would imagine from the name, the garden pea 'Early Onward' is a pea cultivar which is planted and harvested quite early in the season. The type provides lots of peas on a compact plant, which can be successfully grown in pots or containers in a small garden. It also attracts bees to the garden.

Garden pea 'Oregon Sugar Pod'

Garden pea 'Oregon Sugar Pod' is a vigorous snow pea that is resistant to pea virus. This plant offers stout, stringless, sweet pods with crunchy peas. It can grow low to the ground or climb with tendrils. It was developed by Dr. James Baggett, and named after the University where the research took place.

Garden pea 'Cascadia'

Garden pea 'Cascadia' is a robust, climbing annual with durable tendrils, typically reaching heights conducive to easy harvesting. It boasts vibrant green, succulent pods known for their sweet peas, a favorite amongst garden vegetables. Flourishing in cooler climates, its growth is optimized by staking, which facilitates sunlight exposure and air circulation, evident in its bountiful yields.

Garden pea 'Sugar Snap'

Garden pea 'Sugar Snap' is a cool-climate, frost-hardy plant with an early to mid-season maturing time, offering a longer harvesting period. It is a cultivar of Pisum sativum, the garden pea, and was developed by Calvin Lamborn in the 1960s. They are named for their sweet taste. Easy to grow, they make a great addition to home vegetable gardens.

Garden pea 'Hurst Green Shaft'

This cultivar is wrinkle-seeded. The garden pea 'Hurst Green Shaft' was created for its sweet flavor and its reliable and productive capabilities. It is resistant to fusarium wilt and downy mildew.

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More General Info About Garden pea

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Garden pea exhibits distinct features including climbing or trailing vines that can reach lengths of approximately 3-6 feet (about 1-2 meters). Its compound leaves consist of paired leaflets measuring around 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) long. These foliage parts often terminate with tendrils, which aid in support and climbing. During the blooming period, garden pea produces white to purplish flowers that are typical of the Fabaceae family. Following flowering, it bears straight to curved seed pods, each pod housing several spherical to oval seeds which can vary in color.