About
The subspecies of pea which has given rise to all the peas which have edible pods, 'eat all' or 'mange tout' in French. The flowers are white, pink or mauve and develop into green pods containing green peas. It is a green-leaved annual which climbs using tendrils. They include the flattened pods and the thick, fleshy pods often called snap peas.
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
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden
Care notes
CultivationSow seed quite densely, in full sun in well-drained but moisture-retentive soil. Provide support such as twiggy hazel sticks or netting, them to climb up. Pick pods regularly to ensure a continuous crop. For more advice, see pea cultivation.
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to pea moth, aphids, pea and bean weevil, pea thrips, pigeons, slugs and snails. Mice may eat newly-sown seeds
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews, downy mildews, foot and root rot, Fusarium wilt, grey moulds, pea leaf and pod spot, and virus diseases