Sugar snap pea
Many varieties of sugar snap peas
Peas are a plant that has been with humans for a very long time. There are fossils of peas dating back to the Bronze Age. Because they have spread across the world over a long time, there are now many different varieties.
In the 19th century, peas played an important role in the emergence of genetics. Gregor Johann Mendel crossed different varieties to better understand the laws of heredity.
Sugar snap peas are also available in many varieties. In grocery stores, green pea pods are the most common. But those who grow their own can also choose between yellow, purple and pink varieties. Sugar snap peas are additionally available in different heights. The low ones give early harvest. The medium and tall sugar peas give a slightly larger harvest.
Sow sugar snap peas in batches for maximum harvest
Sugar snap peas are the most cold-resistant peas. As soon as the soil clears in spring, you can plant them in the ground. The easiest way is to sow sugar snap peas directly in the field. But they can also be grown indoors. In this case, the seeds are sown in April and the plants are planted out in May.
We usually sow a few plants indoors or in a greenhouse for an extra early harvest. We then sow the sugar snap peas directly in the country in rounds. This way we get a continuous harvest until the frost kills the plants in the autumn.
Soak the peas to speed up germination. Place them 3-4 cm deep with 5-10 cm spacing. Cover the new sowing with fibre cloth to avoid the peas being eaten by birds.
Sugar snap peas thrive in the open air, on a pallet or in a pot with at least 10 litres of soil. They like to grow in a loamy soil in a sunny position.
Easy to care for sugar snap peas
Sugar snap peas are easy to grow and rarely suffer from diseases. But remember to water regularly. If the plants get too dry, they may stall or turn yellow.
The tall and winding varieties need support from a trellis, branches, bamboo sticks or netting, for example. If you want bushier plants with more shoots, you can top the sugar snap peas when they are about 30 cm tall.
Sugar snap peas need regular but moderate nutrition. Place grass cuttings or other organic material between the plants. This will keep the moisture in the soil, smother the weeds and add extra nutrients as they decompose.
Once the sugar snap peas have had their fill, they will turn yellow and wilt. Then just pull the plants up and mulch them into the ground or use them as ground cover.
Sugar snap peas provide nitrogen to the soil
Like all legumes, sugar snap peas have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots. They capture nitrogen from the air and make the soil more nutritious. Therefore, it’s smart to put crops that need a lot of nutrients in a place where sugar snap peas have grown.
Sweet, crispy, crunchy – and healthy!
Harvest the sugar snap peas as you go. The pea pods are best when they are still flat. And the more peas you pick, the more new flowers will form.
Unlike many other legumes, sugar snap peas can be eaten raw. They’re irresistibly good to munch on straight from the land – sweet, crunchy and crispy. Sugar snap peas also taste great in a wok or lightly cooked in salted water. If you have a large crop of sugar snap peas, you can freeze them after a quick blanch.
Sugar snap peas are rich in protein, minerals and vitamin C. They also contain substances that are good for the gut flora.
Author: Johanna Damm
Fact-checked by Erik Hoekstra
Last updated 2022-10-14