About
A quick-maturing, fairly compact, sugar-snap pea to about 1m, with white flowers in late spring and summer, followed by short, stout, light green, thick-walled, edible pods cropping from early summer to early autumn, depending on sowing date.
About the genus
A very small genus of annual, flowering plants from legume family. Native to SW Asia and NE Africa, species P. sativum is widely cultivated for food. Hollow. Climbing or trailing stems bear compound leaves and tendrils. Flowers are butterfly-shaped, 1-3 per stalk. The fruit is a pod
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesBedding displays, containers, gap filling.
Care notes
CultivationPeas grow best in rich, well-drained, neutral or alkaline soils in a sunny position, supportd with pea sticks or pea netting. See pea cultivation
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to pea moth and pea and bean weevil