VegetablePea
Super Sugar Snap Pea
Sugar Snap
Super Sugar Snap Pea is an open-pollinated vining pea that delivers exceptional sweetness and crisp, edible pods in just 58 days. These vigorous plants grow 24-36 inches tall and produce stringless pods loaded with tender peas, perfect for fresh eating straight from the garden or quick stir-fries. Cold-hardy across zones 1-9, this variety thrives in cool seasons and actively enriches your soil with nitrogen as it grows, leaving your beds more fertile for what comes next.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
1-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, Moderately Rich
Preferred Temp55-75°F
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
—
Width
1 in
Spacing
58–58
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeVine
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Zones
1-9
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Tall, productive vines deliver plump, waxy pods brimming with exceptionally sweet peas in under 60 days. The edible pods themselves are stringless and crunchy, making them equally delicious eaten whole or shelled. Super Sugar Snap resists both powdery mildew and pea enation mosaic virus, so you can focus on harvesting rather than fighting disease. Its open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seeds year after year, making this an economical choice for gardeners who plan to grow peas repeatedly.
Common Uses
Fresh eating is where Super Sugar Snap truly shines, whether you're snapping pods raw into salads or popping them whole into your mouth as you walk through the garden. The tender, stringless pods handle steaming beautifully, retaining their crunch and natural sweetness with just gentle heat. Stir-frying brings out their crisp texture while brief cooking preserves the bright flavor and high vitamin C content that makes homegrown peas so nutritionally valuable.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Spring
First Harvest
Late Spring
Last Harvest
Early Summer
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly into garden soil or prepared beds 1 inch deep when soil temperatures reach 45-75°F. Plant in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, or in late summer for a fall crop. Space seeds according to your trellis system, typically 1 inch apart in rows 24 inches apart, though spacing can vary from 1 to 48 inches depending on your support structure.
Harvesting
Begin checking for maturity as soon as pods start to swell and become noticeably plump. Snap pea pods at peak flavor should feel waxy and full without being tough or overmature; check plants daily during peak season as peas mature quickly once they start enlarging. Harvest in the early morning when pods are crispiest, using both hands to gently remove pods and prevent damage to the plant. Harvest frequently and consistently to keep vines producing throughout the season; leaving mature pods on the plant signals the vine to slow production.
Pruning
Use netting or wire trellis to support the heavy-bearing vines for easy picking. Train vines onto your chosen support structure early in growth to direct productivity and prevent tangling.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Lathyrus L.
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Lathyrus
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (W)GL (W)