VegetablePea
Oregon Giant Pea
Oregon Giant is a powerhouse snow pea that lives up to its name, producing massive 4-5 inch pods that are among the largest, crispiest, and sweetest you'll find. Developed by Dr. James Baggett at Oregon State University and released in 1991, this remarkable variety combines impressive size with exceptional disease resistance and dependable productivity. These vigorous vines reach 24-36 inches tall and typically deliver their first harvest in just 60 days, though some gardeners report harvest windows extending to 79 days. Hardy across zones 1-9, Oregon Giant thrives in cool weather and offers the rare combination of substantial yields without requiring staking support.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
1-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, Moderately Rich
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
24
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
1-9
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
What sets Oregon Giant apart is its extraordinary pod size paired with genuine sweetness and satisfying crunch that makes them irresistible straight from the vine. The variety's remarkable disease resistance package protects against Fusarium Wilt, Powdery Mildew, and multiple virus strains, while its compact 30-inch vines eliminate the need for trellising in most gardens. Each thick, emerald pod can stretch nearly as long as your hand and snaps with candy-like crispness, delivering that perfect balance of earthy sweetness and fresh garden flavor that has made this OSU-bred variety a favorite among both kids and adults who love garden snacking.
Common Uses
Oregon Giant snow peas shine brightest when eaten fresh straight from the garden, where their exceptional crispness and sweet flavor are most pronounced. In the kitchen, they excel in quick stir-fries with ginger, soy sauce, and garlic, where brief cooking just until they turn a deeper green preserves their signature snap. The large pods make them perfect for steaming as a side dish or adding raw to salads where their substantial size and sweet crunch provide both flavor and texture. Many gardeners also enjoy them lightly blanched and frozen for year-round use, though their peak appeal lies in that fresh-from-the-vine garden snacking experience.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly into the ground in early spring as soon as soil can be worked and temperatures reach 50-70°F. Plant seeds 1 inch deep and space 3-4 inches apart in rows, though wider spacing of 24 inches between plants is also successful.
Harvesting
Harvest Oregon Giant pods when they are full, firm, and deep green, typically around 60 days from planting. Pick pods when they're fully formed but still flat with tiny immature peas inside for the best snow pea eating experience. Frequent picking every few days encourages continued production and keeps pods at their most tender and sweet stage. The large pods should snap cleanly when ready, and regular harvesting maintains the plant's productivity throughout the season.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Pisum sativum
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Pisum
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (W)GL (W)
History & Origin
“Oregon Giant was developed by Dr. James Baggett at Oregon State University and released in 1991 as part of a focused breeding program aimed at creating large-podded snow peas with superior disease resistance. Dr. Baggett selected this variety specifically for its combination of fat, oversized pods measuring 4-5 inches long and its vigorous, dependable productivity. The university's breeding efforts concentrated on developing a variety that could deliver both impressive size and robust disease tolerance, resulting in this standout cultivar that quickly gained recognition for its exceptional performance in both home gardens and commercial growing operations.”