How to Grow Peas

Beginner-Friendly

Pisum sativum

A cool-season legume. Fixes nitrogen. Snap, snow, and shelling types available. Needs trellis or support.

Last updated: June 2026

Days to Maturity

55–70 days

typical

Per Square Foot

Plant Spacing

8 cm / 3"

Sun

6+ hours

Water

1.0" / 25 mm

Fertilization

light feeder

Growing Notes

Direct sow 4–6 weeks before last frost. Peas tolerate light frost. Provide a trellis or string support.

Varieties & Cultivars

14 cultivars in our database. Click any card to see growing details.

Bush snap pea

(1)

Oracle

55–65 days Open-Pollinated

sweet crisp pods; early producer; convenient for small gardens

Height: 12–18" (30–46 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.4 oz (10 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–9
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Extra-early bush shelling pea

(1)

Sweet Ten

50–58 days Open-Pollinated

perfect 10cm pods; good for cool short seasons

Height: 12–18" (30–46 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.3 oz (8 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–9
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Shelling

(5)

Green Arrow

65–70 days Open-Pollinated

wilt resistant

Height: 24–30" (61–76 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (7 g)
Support: vertical
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Lincoln

65–70 days Open-Pollinated

reliable heavy yields; moderate heat tolerance

Height: 30–36" (76–91 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: trellis
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Little Marvel

58–62 days Open-Pollinated

good for small spaces and containers

Height: 18–28" (46–71 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Thomas Laxton

60–65 days Open-Pollinated

very sweet; vigorous early variety

Height: 30–42" (76–107 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (7 g)
Support: trellis
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Wando

65–70 days Open-Pollinated

sets pods in warmer conditions

Height: 24–30" (61–76 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: vertical
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Snap

(3)

Cascadia

58–62 days Open-Pollinated

compact semi-dwarf habit; enation virus resistant

Height: 30–36" (76–91 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: trellis
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Sugar Snap

58–70 days Open-Pollinated

tall vigorous vines need strong support

Height: 59–71" (150–180 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: trellis
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Super Sugar Snap

57–65 days Open-Pollinated

shorter vines than original Sugar Snap

Height: 47–59" (120–150 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: trellis
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Snap pea

(1)

Amish Snap

60–70 days Open-Pollinated

excellent flavour; heat tolerant for snap pea; vigorous pole type

Height: 71–94" (180–240 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.4 oz (12 g)
Support: vertical
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–9
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Snow

(2)

Dwarf Grey Sugar

55–65 days Open-Pollinated

purple flowers and grey-green foliage; very compact

Height: 18–30" (46–76 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Oregon Sugar Pod II

60–68 days Open-Pollinated

compact bush habit; wilt resistant; needs minimal support

Height: 24–30" (61–76 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: vertical
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Snow pea

(1)

Mammoth Melting Sugar

60–70 days Open-Pollinated

sweet melting texture; vigorous 180cm growth; classic edible pod pea

Height: 71–83" (180–210 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.4 oz (10 g)
Support: vertical
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–9
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Companion Planting

What to grow alongside peas, and what to keep apart.

Plant With

Radish : Radishes mature before peas need the space; mark slow rows

Mint : Mint deters pea moths

Carrot : Peas fix nitrogen; carrots loosen soil for better root growth

Turnip : Turnips grow quickly between slower pea plants; peas fix nitrogen

Corn : Peas fix nitrogen that corn uses as a heavy feeder

Lettuce : Peas provide shade that keeps lettuce from bolting

Cucumber : Peas fix nitrogen; cucumbers benefit from enriched soil

Potato : Peas fix nitrogen for potatoes

Spinach : Peas provide shade that keeps spinach cool; peas fix nitrogen

Artichoke : Peas fix nitrogen that heavy-feeding artichokes use

Keep Apart

Garlic : Garlic inhibits pea growth

Chives : Chives inhibit pea growth (allium family)

Onion : Onions inhibit pea growth

Leek : Peas and alliums are antagonistic; leek root exudates inhibit pea growth

Square Foot Spacing

8 per sq ft

View full spacing chart →

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