VegetablePea
Early Frosty Pea
Shelling Pea
Early Frosty Pea is a cold-hardy heirloom shelling pea with deep roots in Victorian garden tradition, prized for its crisp, tender pods and rich emerald color. This bush variety matures in 60 to 69 days and reaches about 30 inches tall, producing abundant 4-inch pods packed with sweet, tender peas. Hardy from zones 1 through 9, it thrives in full sun and grows as a compact annual that fits neatly into spring and fall gardens without requiring extensive trellising support.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
1-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, Moderately Rich
Preferred Temp55-75°F
Growth Stats
—
Height
—
Width
3 in
Spacing
60–69
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeVine
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
1-9
Size
?in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What makes Early Frosty Pea special is its bridge between heirloom heritage and practical home gardening. These peas were grown in Victorian gardens on hazel shrub trellises and carry that same elegant character into modern vegetable patches. The crisp, emerald-colored pods develop quickly and are bursting with tender peas at harvest. Its cold hardiness across zones 1 through 9 means gardeners in nearly every climate can enjoy this variety, and the compact bush habit keeps it manageable without sprawling across the garden.
Common Uses
Early Frosty Peas are shelling peas, meant to be podded and eaten fresh or preserved. The tender, crisp peas inside are excellent eaten raw straight from the pod, steamed as a simple spring vegetable, or added to soups and stews. Their sweet flavor and delicate texture make them particularly suited to light preparations that don't mask their inherent quality.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Spring
First Harvest
Late Spring
Last Harvest
Early Summer
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Early Frosty Pea seeds as soon as the soil can be worked in spring, or in late summer for a fall crop. These cold-hardy peas can tolerate light frosts and actually prefer cool conditions for germination and early growth.
Harvesting
Harvest Early Frosty Pea pods when they're plump and fully filled with tender peas, typically 60 to 69 days after planting. The pods should be bright green and feel firm when gently squeezed. Pick regularly to encourage continued production throughout the season, removing pods before they become tough or overripe. Early morning harvest, when plants are still cool, preserves the crisp texture and sweet flavor of freshly picked peas.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Pisum L.
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Pisum
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (W)GL (W)
History & Origin
“Early Frosty Pea belongs to an ancient lineage of cultivated peas stretching back some 4,000 years to the Mediterranean and African regions. As garden peas traveled into Europe, they became embedded in the continent's horticultural traditions, eventually becoming prized heirlooms in England and beyond. During the Victorian era, Early Frosty Peas flourished in European gardens, traditionally grown up hazel shrub trellises in carefully tended plots. This cultivar represents the living continuation of that heritage, preserving the flavor and character that made Victorian gardeners reach for these peas year after year.”