Snap peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon) are my favorite cool-season vegetables to grow. Snap peas produce edible pods with sweet, plump, edible peas inside. In fact, all parts of the pea plant are edible, even the shoots and tendrils. While I've experimented with growing other cool-season vegetables, snap peas reliably produce for me with little care. They are similar to grow as English peas, but tolerate warmer temperatures a little better and are more forgiving regarding harvest times. I can pick the peas when the pods are flat or filled with peas, and any time in between!
Snap peas are easy to grow from seeds or transplants. I plant them at least twice during the season – once in early- to mid-fall in hopes of having an early winter crop and then in early winter for a spring crop. Sometimes I'll plant extra seeds throughout late fall and winter and, conditions permitting (it's a gamble in the cold, wet conditions of winter), I am rewarded with a continuous crop.
Snap peas prefer full sun and well-drained soil. If the soil is heavy, try planting the peas in raised beds or containers. Sow seeds directly in the soil according to the instructions on the seed packet or transplant label. In general, sow seeds about 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart and in rows 18 to 24 inches apart. Because the seeds readily germinate, and can be planted successively to ensure an ongoing harvest, I generally purchase seeds over transplants. Water regularly but avoid overhead irrigation, which increases the incidence of mildew. As the seedlings grow, protect them against voracious slugs and snails who enjoy the tender shoots.
Snap peas come in both tall climbing varieties and bush varieties. Climbing varieties, which can be up to 6 feet tall, require support such as a fence, trellis, or a simple string system. Bush varieties don't require trellising but tend to flop over. If I'm growing bush types, I tend to let them grow next to each other and support each other. Varieties of snap peas that are bred to have higher sugar content typically have the word “sugar” in their name.
Snap peas can be cooked or eaten raw. My preference is to pick them and eat them right in the garden. They rarely make it into the house!