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
    S S S S S S        
      T T T T T T      
      P P P P P P      

(Best months for growing Snow Peas in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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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16 Aug 14, christy (Australia - temperate climate)
I am doing my first box of snow peas, there were going ok till a few days back when I noticed they look like they are dying from the roots up slowly. what is happening? I am not over watering or underwatering. what do I do to get them to stay alive?
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17 Aug 14, Bob (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Have a look at your potting mix. Most commercial mixes hold so much water your plants are rotting. Take a hand full out and squeeze it and you will see. I am having the same problem with seed raising mixture. Will be making my own from now on
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15 Aug 14, Robert Bills (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try putting peas under damp bag and let them sprout before planting. Will increase germination.
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13 Aug 14, Lucy (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi all, We had lots of success last year when we planted some snow peas in Autumn in Melbourne, so we thought this year we will just plant our vege garden full of snow peas. But, surprisingly not a single one has turned out. We planted it in early June and now its August and nothing has come up. There has been no signs of digging from birds/mice. We're just wondering if the weird Melbourne Autumn/Winter (its been more windy and warm instead of consistent cold) this year has caused confusion for the seeds? thanks, Lucy
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27 Jul 14, James of Bayswater (Australia - temperate climate)
Cooking snow peas ? I steam them in a bamboo steamer, squirt of lemon juice and yum. They are best eaten young and small. Bigger pods are still good but you'll need to string them. Excellent in stir fries and fresh in salads. Don't over cook. You want to retain some crunch.
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18 Jul 14, geronimo (Canada - Zone 2a Sub-Arctic climate)
please tell me how they are best stored/cooked. IM DESPERATE
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18 May 14, Emma (Australia - temperate climate)
Can snow peas be grown in tamworth NSW
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10 May 14, craig (Australia - temperate climate)
Do not tip snow peas as you do tomatoes. If you can get a plastic greenhouse you will grow a forest. They are cheap and readily available, humidity is the secret. Keeps the possums and birds away also. I use timber stakes with twine for support and plant new seeds as the larger plants are beginning to produce to keep a rolling harvest for 6 months. The older plants are perfect support for the new plants. Always use a liquid/seaweed fertilizer once a week. Mine are 2 metres tall and produce from June until December when the heat beats them.
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05 Apr 14, Judy Bennett (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Do you have to pinch out the tops of snow peas to encourage more lateral growth to get more flowers thus more snow pods??
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10 Mar 14, Peter Roggenkamp (Australia - temperate climate)
Is cow manure good to mix with soil for new trellis snow pea bed? Thank you Peter
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Showing 91 - 100 of 188 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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