VegetablePea
Wando Pea
Shelling Pea
Wando Pea is a heat and cold-tolerant vining pea that arrived in American gardens in 1943 and has remained a gardener's favorite ever since. These medium-sized peas produce sweet, tender pods perfect for fresh eating or freezing, and they're remarkable for thriving across a wider temperature range than most pea varieties. Growing 12 to 36 inches tall, Wando reaches harvest in 70 to 79 days (though some sources report 60 to 70 days), making it flexible enough to fit spring and early summer planting windows in hardiness zones 1 through 9.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
1-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, Moderately Rich
Preferred Temp60-85°F
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
—
Width
9 in
Spacing
70–79
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush - Heat-tolerant Growth
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
1-9
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Wando's greatest strength is its temperature resilience. Most pea varieties struggle when spring warms up or if you plant too late, but Wando tolerates both cool spring conditions and warm early summer heat significantly better than its peers. This adaptability opened up planting opportunities for gardeners who couldn't coax traditional peas through their regional climate quirks. The peas themselves deliver genuine sweetness and tender texture whether you eat them fresh from the pod, freeze them at peak ripeness, or cook them down. Combine that durability with resistance to powdery mildew and you have a variety that rewards both novice and experienced growers with reliable harvests.
Common Uses
Wando Peas shine in the kitchen fresh from the garden, when you can eat them raw or lightly steamed to preserve their sweetness and tender texture. They're equally valuable for freezing at peak ripeness, which locks in flavor and nutrition for winter meals. Home cooks use them in spring vegetable soups, stir-fries, side dishes, or simply as a sweet snack straight from the pod. Their reliable tenderness and flavor make them particularly suited to dishes where you want the pea itself to shine rather than disappear into a sauce.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
30-40 Days After Sowing
First Harvest
70-75 Days After Sowing
Last Harvest
Determinate
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Wando Pea seeds 0.5 to 1 inch deep into prepared garden soil. Sow in early spring as soon as soil is workable, or in early summer for a later crop. The variety tolerates both cool spring and warm early summer conditions better than most peas, giving you flexibility in timing. Space seeds 9 inches apart in rows spaced 24 inches apart.
Harvesting
Pick Wando Pea pods when they are full and bright green, typically 70 to 79 days after planting. The pods should feel firm and plump when gently squeezed, indicating mature peas inside. Harvest regularly to encourage continued flowering and pod production throughout the season. Simply pinch or snip the pod from the vine with your fingers or pruners to avoid damaging the plant.
Pruning
Wando Peas grow as vining plants and require sturdy support as they climb. Install a trellis, string, or wire structure at planting time or shortly after germination so the tendrils can latch on as plants grow. Regular pruning is not necessary for this variety; instead, focus on providing adequate support and removing any diseased or damaged foliage to maintain airflow through the canopy.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Pisum L.
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Pisum
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (W)GL (W)
History & Origin
“Wando Pea was introduced in 1943, arriving at a moment when American home gardening was expanding and gardeners needed reliable vegetables for variable climates. The variety's superior tolerance to temperature extremes made it stand out from earlier pea cultivars, which had narrow windows of success. This practical advantage helped Wando become established across diverse growing regions and it has remained in cultivation as an open-pollinated heirloom ever since, preserved by seed savers and commercial growers alike.”