The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Snap peas are just like fan-favoritepeasbut with edible pods.
Don’t confuse snap peas for snow peas, as there are a few key differences.
Snap peas have rounded pods, they arent thin, flat, and bendable like snow peas.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
The pod walls are thicker than snow peas, which makes them juicier and crisp.
But dont wait too long to plant your peas, because they dont do well in hot weather.
For fall planting, choose a variety that matures early.
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Select a Planting Site
The planting site should be sunny and have well-draining soil.
Do not thin the seedlings.
Snap peas are vines of varying lengths that needtrellising, although there are also dwarf varieties available.
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Set up the trellis before you plant, or else you risk damaging the germinating seeds or young plants.
Water
Adequate moisture is crucial when growing snap peas.
ensure that the soil never fully dries out.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
This is especially damaging during seed germination, and the seeds wont recover.
In the absence of rain, give snap peas about an inch of water per week.
The earlier in the summer the peas are ready to harvest, the better.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
In mid-summer, the harvest tends to become sparser.
In warmer zones, the peas are done by late spring.
Pollination
As with other self-pollinating vegetables, snap peas do not require insects or wind for pollination.
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The pods should be plump and glossy and make the typical snap sound when broken in two.
Pick snap peas in the morning, because thats when the pods are the plumpest.
Consume them the same day, if possible, as their taste and texture deteriorate quickly.
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Pick often to keep the vines producing well.
Pick a large container, at least 12 inches in diameter.
The container should be heavy enough not to topple over.
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Unglazed clay works well.
confirm it has several drainage holes.
Fill the container with fast-draining potting mix.
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Some dwarf varieties, like ‘Tom Thumb’, are perfect for containers without the need for trellising.
As peas dont transplant well, start them in their large containers directly.
Check your seed packets for more information.
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Seeds saved from hybrid plants, however, will not come true to the parent plant.
The inoculant helps with the formation of nitrogen-producing nodules on the plant roots and improves crop production.
Treat the pea seeds with the inoculant just before planting.
Soaking pea seeds overnight in room-temperature water helps speed germination.
Pests attacking peas includeaphidsand pea weevils.
Sometimes spraying the plants with a hose can keep the populations down.
If the infestation is severe, useinsecticidal soap.
Snap pea vines need trellising or some other form of support to keep them off the ground.
The time to plant peas depends on your local climate.
Some snap pea varieties mature earlier than others.
On average, it takes about two months from planting to harvest.
Pea, Snap - Pisum sativum L. (Macrocarpon Group).
University of Florida Extension.
Do I Need to Treat My Peas with an Inoculant Before Planting?Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
