Peas are very easy to grow but their growing period is very limited. It’s important to plant them early enough in spring so they mature while the weather is still cool. (This means planting in February, March, or April in most parts of the United States and Canada.) However, they can also be grown as a fall or winter crop in warmer regions.
Peas do not stay fresh long after harvest, so enjoy their taste as soon as you can! Those peas in grocery stores are often starchy in taste which you’ll find has no comparison to garden-fresh peas.
Three varieties of peas suit most garden and culinary needs:
For more information on how to grow bell peppers click the following hyperlink to Farmers Almanac Peas.
For other resources please click on Cornell Universities Peas link or click on Gardening Know How's Peas link.
Pea Seeds, Carouby De Maussane Snow:
Description: (Pisum sativum). This time-honored variety produces some of the largest pods we’ve ever seen in snow peas—often reaching 5-6 inches in length! The robust plants vine to 5 feet. The bicolored flowers, borne in pairs, are pink and burgundy, maturing through purple to nearly sky blue, distinctive and pretty enough to merit a spot in the border. The succulent pods are of robust flavor and vary somewhat from plant to plant, which makes this variety all the more interesting in stir fries and salads. Originated in Maussane, near Avignon in southern France.
Pea Seeds, Charmette Petit Pois:
Description: We absolutely adore these tiny, sweet seeded peas! Everything about them—the plants, the pods, and the peas themselves—is delightfully small yet top-notch. These little powerhouses produce loads of mini pods on each vine, making them a European favorite and a true kitchen gem. They’re as delightful to grow as they are to eat, adding a splash of fun to your garden!
Description: (Pisum sativum). Brilliantly colored pods and flowers that are perfect for salads and stir fries. This variety produces flat pods that are a beautiful, bright lemon yellow. Tall 6’ vines with lovely purple flowers that are perfect for bouquets. Collected from a market in India; rare and tasty.
Description: (Pisum sativum). A magnificent giant! The green pods are tender, even harvested at their full size of up to 8 inches long. These are not only big, but among the best tasting of all we have tried! Vigorous plants are productive and reach 6-8 feet tall in ideal conditions. Bred by eminent public-domain plant breeder Dr. Alan Kapuler. Delicious, tender pods are likely the largest of all! This variety also produces large amounts of vitamin C and is a wonderful addition to a variety of dishes. Great for snacking!
Pea Seeds, Kelvedon Wonder Garden:
Description: (Pisum sativum). Also known as “First Early,” this super-early dwarf variety reaches only about 18 inches tall, requiring no staking. Highly recommended for succession sowing; also a great variety for container planting or cold-frame growing. Produces heavy crops of sweet, small peas, often eight per pod; typically yields two fat pods per node. Resistant to pea wilt and downy mildew.
Description: (Pisum sativum). The Tutankhamun pea, often dubbed King Tut's pea, has an enchanting and mythical history, claimed to originate from the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. Though some argue it might stem from early 20th-century English gardens, legend suggests that these peas were once planted for King Tut's afterlife, and remained sealed in his tomb until its discovery in 1922 by Howard Carter. This pea variety features striking fuschia purple flowers and produces plump purple pods, ideal for making a hearty soup or enjoying as a fresh snow pea. Rich in plant-based proteins, this rare garden pea not only adds a touch of historical intrigue but also nutritional value to any garden.
Pea Seeds, Lillian's Caseload:
Description: (Pisum sativum). One of the best-tasting peas we have ever tried. This superior variety was saved by a Mennonite farmer named Lillian. It is not an old, storied heirloom of antiquity, but rather a discontinued commercial variety that this family did not want to see disappear. Lillian explained that she grew Caseload peas from Johnny’s Seeds and when the company discontinued them, she saved some of the seeds. After almost two decades of seed saving, the variety has developed unique characteristics making it different from the original Caseload pea. Vines reach 2-3 feet in length with peas about 2.5-3 inches long, containing 5-7 large, sweet peas.
Description: An old-time pea that was introduced in 1908. High-yielding and tasty, this pea does better than many in warmer weather. The tightly filled pods are easy to shell, and compact vines are a good choice for small gardens.
Pea Seeds, Little Marvel Garden:
Description: (Pisum sativum). One of the most popular peas for the home garden. Compact, vigorous bush plants produce heavy yields of tender, sweetly flavored peas. A dependable heirloom variety from 1908, introduced by Sutton and Sons of Reading, England. This delicious shelling pea resulted from a cross of ‘Chelsea Gem’ and ‘Sutton’s A-1’. A true classic.
Pea Seeds, Magnolia Blossom Tendril:
Description: (Pisum sativum). An innovative hypertendril snap pea bred by Dr. Alan Kapuler. Hypertendril plants make enlarged tendrils in place of some leaves. The tendrils make for a more open habit, allowing better air flow and reducing diseases. They are also great to eat! Wonderful in salads or as a garnish, and they taste just like peas! Sturdy 5- to 8-foot plants are very productive and yield deliciously sweet snap peas for weeks. Vigorous vines produce bicolor flowers.
Pea Seeds, Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow:
Description: (Pisum sativum). The pods are large and sweet-flavored, and the tall plants reach 4 feet. The pods are tasty stir fried or in salads. Pick before the peas inside start to get large. An heirloom variety that has been popular for many years.
Pea Seeds, Sugar Bon Snap:
Description: (Pisum sativum). The Sugar Bon Snap pea is a delightful dwarf variety that matures early and produces sublimely sweet 3-inch pods borne on 1-2 foot tall plants. Plants produce huge yields of the crispy, crunchy sweet and snackable peas that have both edible pods and peas. This early, high yielder is tidy and prolific, making it a perfect choice for tucking into square-foot gardens, under row covers in cool weather, or for mingling in your cottage garden among the flowers or in tidy container gardens.
Pea Seeds, Sugar Magnolia Tendril:
Description: (Pisum sativum). A marvelous innovation in sugar snap pea breeding from Dr. Alan Kapuler, the first ever purple-podded sugar snap pea! We love the dusty purple-blue pods that really pop in a sea of green foliage. These vigorous vines can reach up to 8 feet tall in the garden and cover a trellis so nicely. The purple blossoms and profuse tendrils make this an incredible edible ornamental--so dainty! The flavor is perfect, not too sweet, with a great snap!
Description: 60 days. The original Sugar Snap pea is still as sweet as ever and hard to beat! This classic, edible-pod pea is a favorite among gardeners and food lovers alike. The delicious, tender pods are perfect for snacking right from the garden, stir-frying, or adding to salads. Plus, they freeze beautifully for enjoying later. Awarded AAS winner status in 1979, it’s a tried-and-true gem that’s sure to please! Long vines grow beautifully on any fence or trellis.
Description: (Pisum sativum). Tom Thumb Garden is absolutely the best pea variety for container planting! Reaching only 8 to 9 inches in height, it’s grown mainly as a shelling type, but the pods are also sweet, tender, and delicious when harvested very young. This variety excels when tucked into small spaces around the garden, and for cold-frame production very early or very late in the season. This unusual heirloom originated in England and was first introduced in the U.S. by Landreth Seeds, Philadelphia, in 1854. Even more frost tolerant than most other pea varieties, and, naturally, it requires no staking!
