Snow Pea
Pisum sativum var. saccharatum
vegetableSnow peas are flat-podded peas eaten whole, pod and all, while the pods are still thin and the seeds barely formed, prized for their sweet crunch in stir-fries and salads. A frost-hardy cool-season climber, it crops in the cool shoulders of spring and fall and stops producing once summer heat sets in.
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Sun
full sun
💧
Water
Every 3 days
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Harvest
~60 days
📊
Difficulty
easy
🌱
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
↔️
Spacing
2-3 in. apart
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Planting Depth
1-1.5 in.
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Soil pH
6.0-7.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 9
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
Little needed; the plant fixes its own nitrogen
Fertilizer
Low-nitrogen if any
🌱 Growing Guide
Direct sow as soon as the soil can be worked in spring, since peas are frost-hardy and grow best between 55 and 65F. Provide a trellis or netting for the tendrils, set up before or just after sowing to avoid disturbing the roots. As legumes peas fix their own nitrogen, so go easy on fertilizer, and keep moisture steady through flowering and pod fill. For a fall crop, sow 55 to 70 days before the first frost.
Planting Calendar
Sign in to personalize →spring planting
🌿
Direct sow
Mar 18
🌾
Projected first harvest
May 17
fall planting
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Direct sow
Aug 4
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Projected first harvest
Oct 3
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Carrots — Uses bed space at a different depth
- Radishes — Fast trap crop that lures flea beetles away
- Lettuce — Shares cool-season beds
- Sweet Alyssum — Draws hoverflies that eat aphids
❌ Keep away from
OnionGarlic
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Encourage ladybugs and hoverflies with flowers; rinse colonies off
Space for airflow, water at the base, and grow in the cool season
Plant in well-drained soil and avoid waterlogging cool spring beds
🌾 Harvest & storage
Pick the flat pods while they are still bright green and thin, before the peas inside swell, and pick at least every other day to keep the pods sweet and fiber-free and the vines flowering.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Snow peas are low in calories and a good source of vitamin C, with one cup providing roughly half to two-thirds of a day's worth, plus vitamin K, folate, fiber, iron, and a little plant protein.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.