VegetablePea
Progress No. 9 Pea
Progress No. 9 is a compact heirloom shelling pea that delivers an impressive harvest in just 60 to 69 days. This dwarf bush variety grows only 18 to 24 inches tall, making it adaptable to gardens, containers, raised beds, and even greenhouses across hardiness zones 1 through 9. Each plant produces abundantly, yielding deep-green pods packed with 7 to 9 plump, sweet peas per pod, and the variety carries strong disease resistance against Fusarium Wilt, Powdery Mildew, and root rot. Whether you're planning a spring or fall crop, Progress No. 9 rewards gardeners with crisp, tender peas ready for fresh eating, freezing, or cooking.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
1-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, Moderately Rich
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
TypeBush
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
1-9
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
Progress No. 9 stands out as a genuinely early and compact pea that doesn't sacrifice yield for speed. The pods are thick and deep-green, measuring 4 to 5 inches, each containing 7 to 9 remarkably sweet peas. This heirloom was bred specifically for wilt resistance and fast maturation, making it far more reliable than many open-pollinated varieties while remaining true to the hearty, crisp character that makes homegrown peas incomparable to supermarket versions.
Common Uses
Progress No. 9 shines as a fresh eating pea straight from the garden, where the sweet, tender pods reward quick snacking. The peas are equally excellent shelled and added to early summer dishes, frozen at peak ripeness for winter cooking, or stewed gently in butter and cream. Home gardeners grow this variety specifically because it delivers the concentrated, garden-fresh flavor that makes homegrown peas so eagerly anticipated each spring and fall.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring, or 8 to 10 weeks before your first fall frost. Push seeds 1 inch deep into moist, well-draining soil. Germination occurs in 7 to 14 days at soil temperatures of 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Harvesting
Pick pods when they feel full and firm to the touch, typically 60 to 69 days after sowing. The pods should be deep-green and still tender; if they begin to yellow or feel papery, they've passed their prime. Gently snap or cut pods from the vine to avoid damaging the plant. Harvest regularly every 2 to 3 days once production begins; consistent picking encourages more flowers and extends the productive season.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Pisum sativum
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Pisum
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (W)GL (W)
History & Origin
“Progress No. 9 carries a distinguished lineage rooted in plant breeding innovation. The variety was originally named after Thomas Laxton, a pioneering English pea breeder, as 'Laxton's Progress No. 9.' Laxton's work in the 19th and early 20th centuries focused on creating peas that combined earliness with productivity, and this cultivar represents that legacy. The number designation reflects a methodical breeding program aimed at continuous improvement, and Progress No. 9 emerged as a standout among his numbered selections. Today it persists as an open-pollinated heirloom, carrying forward Laxton's commitment to creating reliable, high-yielding shelling peas suited to diverse growing conditions.”