Types Of Peas: 3 Essential Varieties For Garden, Snap, And Snow
Explore cool-season cultivars that bring crisp texture and sweet flavor to every meal.
Types of Peas: A Comprehensive Guide to Garden, Snap, and Snow Varieties
Peas are among the most delightful and versatile crops you can grow in your home garden. With a variety of flavors, textures, and culinary uses, understanding the different types of peasâand choosing the right varietiesâcan lead to an even more rewarding harvest. This in-depth guide covers the three main pea types, essential varieties for each, and expert tips for successful cultivation.
Overview: The Three Main Types of Peas
All edible peas belong to the species Pisum sativum, but they are generally categorized by pod and seed characteristics into three main types:
- Shelling (Garden or English) Peas: Grown for their sweet seeds, pods are too fibrous to eat.
- Snow Peas: Entire pods are edible, flat, with undeveloped seeds.
- Snap Peas: Edible pods and sweet, juicy, full-size peas inside.
| Type | Edibility | Pod | Seed | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelling (Garden/English) | Seeds only | Fibrous, inedible | Plump, sweet | Soups, purees, fresh |
| Snow | Pod and tiny seeds | Flat, tender, edible | Small, immature | Stir-fries, salads |
| Snap | Pod and full seeds | Thick, crisp, edible | Plump, sweet | Fresh, steamed, snacking |
Shelling (Garden or English) Peas
Shelling peas, also known as garden peas or English peas, are cherished for their sweet, tender seeds encased in a fibrous pod. The pods are not meant for eating but protect the seeds until harvest.
Key Characteristics
- Pods are fibrous and not typically eaten.
- Seeds inside are plump and sweet; often eaten fresh, cooked, or canned.
- Require shelling before consumption.
- Cool season crop; grows best in spring or fall.
Popular Varieties of Shelling Peas
- Mr. Big: Renowned for extra-large peas, high yields, fusarium resistance, and a sturdy, 4-foot-tall plant. Harvest in 60 days.
- Early Perfection: Crescent-shaped, 3.5-inch pods with 8-9 peas each. Drought resistant and prolific; ready in 65 days.
- Green Arrow: Heavy-yielding variety, 68 days to maturity, resists wilt and powdery mildew. Grows 24â30 inches tall.
- Little Marvel: Dwarf heirloom, 18â28-inch vines, small sweet peas, ready in 62 days.
- Tall Telephone (Alderman): Heirloom, up to 6 feet tall, requires support, matures in 75 days.
- Maestro: Compact, under 3 feet tall, disease-tolerant, and ready in 60 days.
- Lincoln: Another heirloom, 18â30 inches tall, needs trellis, 62-day maturity.
- Dakota: Early, ready in 57 days, disease-resistant, 22â26 inches tall.
Snow Peas
Snow peas are loved for their flat, tender, and edible pods with very small seeds. Both pod and seeds are meant to be eaten together, and their sweet, crisp nature makes them a favorite in salads and stir-fries.
Key Characteristics
- Pods are flat and broad, with tiny, underdeveloped peas.
- Whole pod is edible and typically stringless.
- Sweet and crunchy, often eaten raw or lightly cooked.
- Popular in Asian cuisine and fresh snacks.
Popular Varieties of Snow Peas
- Little Snowpea White: Grows just over 3 feet, crunchy and sweet, matures in a rapid 30 daysâideal for impatient gardeners.
- Oregon Giant: Prolific producer, large flat pods, sweet flavor.
- Mammoth Melting Sugar: Known for giant sweet pods, tall vines (up to 4â5 feet).
- Oregon Sugar Pod II: Disease resistant, heavy yielding, flat sweet pods.
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Snap Peas
Snap peas, or sugar snaps, combine the best of both worlds: sweet, fully developed peas inside thick, crisp, entirely edible pods. They are a relatively recent introduction but have quickly become a favorite for gardeners and cooks alike.
Key Characteristics
- Entire pod and peas are edible, juicy, and sweet.
- Crispy and refreshing texture; can be eaten raw or cooked.
- Popular for snacking, salads, and stir-fries.
- Usually thicker pods than snow peas.
Popular Varieties of Snap Peas
- Sugar Snap: High yields, crunchy and very sweet. Prize-winning for taste and productivity. Early types ready in just 54 days.
- Super Sugar Snap VP: Sweeter than the original sugar snap, 5â6 inches tall, prolific and highly disease resistant, ready to harvest in 65 days.
- Sugar Sprint: Stringless, quick growing (62 days), requires support, very sweet peas.
- Cascadia: Compact, heavy-yielding, resistant to disease, matures in 60 days.
- Sugar Ann: Early variety, stores exceptionally well, fast growing (ready in 52 days).
- Sugar Magnolia: Deep purple pods, easy harvesting, ready in 70 days, ornamental and edible.
- Spring Blush: Rare two-toned pods, up to 6 feet tall, requires trellis, 70-day maturity.
- Sugar Daddy: Self-supporting, disease-resistant, compact 24″ plants, ready in 65 days.
- Super Sugar Snap: Tall, vigorous vines (up to 5 feet), excellent flavor, matures in 58 days.
Specialty and Ornamental Peas
While most gardeners focus on edible pea types, there are a few other specialty categories to know:
- Tendril peas: Grown for their curly, edible tendrils and young shoots, often used in salads and garnishes.
- Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus): Grown for beautiful, fragrant flowers. Note: not edible; seeds and pods are toxic.
- Colored pod peas: Varieties like ‘Sugar Magnolia’ (purple pods) or ‘Spring Blush’ (blushed pods) add ornamental value to vegetable beds and salads.
How to Grow Peas: Key Tips for Each Type
All peas prefer cool weather and well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Hereâs how to get the best results:
- Planting time: Early spring or fall in most regions. Soil temperature should be above 40°F (4°C).
- Support: Most pea varieties, especially tall types, need supports or trellising to prevent lodging and encourage healthy growth.
- Spacing: Sow seeds 1 to 2 inches apart in rows about 18â24 inches apart.
- Sunlight: Full sun preferred, though partial shade is tolerated in hot climates.
- Water: Keep soil moist but not soggy, especially during flowering and pod development.
- Harvesting: Pick snow and snap peas when pods are full and crisp; harvest shelling peas when the pods appear plump but before the peas turn starchy.
- Succession planting: For a continuous supply, plant new rows every two weeks through the cool season.
How to Select the Best Pea Varieties for Your Garden
- Climate: Early or disease-resistant varieties are best in short-season or humid areas.
- Space: Dwarf or bush types for containers; tall or vining types for large gardens.
- Intended use: Fresh snacking, freezing, or cooking suggest different typesâpick accordingly.
Pea Varieties At a Glance
| Variety | Type | Height | Days to Harvest | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Big | Shelling | 4 ft | 60 | High yield, disease resistant |
| Early Perfection | Shelling | Variable | 65 | Drought resistant, prolific |
| Little Snowpea White | Snow | 3 ft | 30 | Very fast maturing |
| Sugar Snap | Snap | Varies | 54 | Prize winner, great taste |
| Super Sugar Snap VP | Snap | 5â6 in | 65 | Very sweet, disease resistant |
| Oregon Giant | Snow | Varies | Varies | Large pods |
| Cascadia | Snap | 3 ft | 60 | Heavy yielding, disease resistant |
| Sugar Magnolia | Snap | Varies | 70 | Purple pods, ornamental |
| Sugar Ann | Snap | Varies | 52 | Early, stores well |
| Mammoth Melting Sugar | Snow | 4â5 ft | Varies | Extra-large pods |
| Sugar Sprint | Snap | Varies | 62 | Stringless, sweet |
| Green Arrow | Shelling | 2â2.5 ft | 68 | Heavy yielding, disease resistant |
Top Tips for Growing All Peas
- Inoculate seeds with rhizobium bacteria for better root nodulation and increased nitrogen fixation.
- Mulch plants to conserve moisture and keep roots cool.
- Early sowing usually leads to stronger, more productive plants.
- Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizersâpeas make their own, and too much can hinder pod set.
- Rotate crops yearly to avoid soil-borne diseases like fusarium and pea wilt.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pea Types and Growing Peas
Q: What is the difference between shelling, snap, and snow peas?
A: Shelling peas are grown for their edible seeds (pods are inedible); snow peas have flat, edible pods with tiny seeds; snap peas have thick, edible pods with large, sweet peas inside.
Q: Can I eat the pods of any pea?
A: Only snap peas and snow peas have edible pods. Shelling peas have fibrous pods that should be discarded after removing the seeds.
Q: When should I harvest peas?
A: Snap peas can be picked when pods are crisp and just fully rounded. Snow peas should be flat but mature. Shelling peas are ripe when the pods look plump, but before peas become starchy.
Q: How should I support my pea plants?
A: Most vining peas (especially tall shelling and snap types) benefit from a trellis, netting, or pea fencing. Dwarf or bush types may not need additional support.
Q: Are there disease-resistant pea varieties?
A: Yesâmany modern varieties are bred for resistance to fusarium, powdery mildew, and other diseases. Mr. Big and Cascadia are notable resistant types.
Q: Can I grow peas in containers?
A: Absolutely! Choose bush or dwarf varieties like Little Marvel or compact snap peas. Use deep containers, provide support if needed, and ensure good drainage.
Q: Do peas need a lot of fertilizer?
A: No. Peas fix their own nitrogen, so use minimal fertilizer, focusing on organic matter and balanced nutrients.
Q: What is the best climate for growing peas?
A: Peas thrive in cool weather (ideally under 70°F / 21°C). In hot climates, plant in early spring or fall; in mild climates, peas can be grown through winter.
Enrich Your Garden With the Right Pea Type
With so many varieties and types suited to different tastes and gardens, growing peas is both rewarding and delicious. Whether you enjoy the sweetness of snap peas, the crunch of snow peas, or the classic taste of garden peas, thereâs a perfect variety for every gardener and home chef.
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