Growing Snow Peas, also Sugar Peas, Mangetout, Chinese Peas

Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
              P P P    

(Best months for growing Snow Peas in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 68°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 3 - 4 inches apart
  • Harvest in 12-14 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots, Endive, Florence fennel, Winter lettuce, Brassicas.
  • Avoid growing close to: Chives, Alliums, Tomatoes

Your comments and tips

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11 Feb 09, Ivan Alesich (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I look after a vineyard on Waiheke Island the soil is in not very good condition and was thinking of planting snow peas in the winter and after harvesting the snow peas was intending to mulch the plants. A) do you think this would be of benefit to my soil and B) would snow peas grow in the clay soils of Waiheke Island. Look forward to feed back, thank you
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13 Sep 10, Ryan h (Australia - temperate climate)
Ivan, Mulching the plants after the crop would be a great idea. Snow peas indeed can grow in clay soil. fertilize a little first and you should be fine, i planted alot of seeds in my clay soil and they all germinated and are happily growing! Just keep well watered as clay soil cakes easily.
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Showing 11 - 12 of 12 comments
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I am in Victoria australia, new house new garden and two plants came up in garden in separate places. I thought when they came up and saw two tone flowers that they were sweet peas. Although much stronger leaves and vines. Looked again today and underneath there are a lot of pea pods. I thought they were normal peas with different colored flowers until I saw the post about these Heirloom snow peas that grow quite large. I opened a pod and seeds inside quite full, so not sure about eating them if they get bigger They either blew here or came in soil mix we brought and put in garden. I do grow normal snow peas these are much stronger. They have been growing there for quite a few months Noticed them about May/June. I was a bit scared to eat them, that is why I started investigating

- Shirley

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