Growing Snow Peas, also Sugar Peas, Mangetout, Chinese Peas

Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
              P P P    

(Best months for growing Snow Peas in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 68°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 3 - 4 inches apart
  • Harvest in 12-14 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots, Endive, Florence fennel, Winter lettuce, Brassicas.
  • Avoid growing close to: Chives, Alliums, Tomatoes

Your comments and tips

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19 Sep 13, Green Finger (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I had the exact same problem. I had the garden surrounded with chicken wire, and bird netting over the top to keep out wallabies and possums. It wasn't until I draped the bird netting around the chicken wire on the sides that IT stopped eating my snow peas. Must have been either birds, or rodents small enough to get through chicken wire.
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18 May 18, Tam (Australia - temperate climate)
Slugs and snails love the young snow peas seedlings. I used snail pallets to stop them.
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10 Jun 13, Camille (Australia - temperate climate)
snails and slugs also love these when young. I put plastic bottles over to protect along with coffee grounds for defence. plant in bulk, 3 per hole. thin when strong.
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30 Apr 13, Sustainable Jill (Australia - temperate climate)
Possums? (They love their fresh greens!) Physical protection like chicken wire keeps them away. If you have mulch right up to the stems it could be slaters. Since I discovered this (I actually caught them in the act!) I just keep the mulch away till the plants are strong and sturdy. For shorter tender plants like lettuce, adding a physical barrier like a cut-down milk or soft drink bottle also helps (and helps keeping off snails & slugs too).
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28 Oct 12, Tamara (Australia - temperate climate)
My snow peas have a powdery mildew on the leaves. How can i fix this? and what am i doing wrong?. Please help just a beginner
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19 Oct 12, Wendy Cork (Australia - temperate climate)
My snow peas are still producing in October but have powdery mildew. Should I pull them out so it won't spread to other veges such as tomatoes and herbs and lettuce?
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15 Oct 12, Lisa (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I've planted snow peas, they are up to my hip, but no signs of flowers yet, is that OK.
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21 Jun 13, Hazel Hodge (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have tried to grow Snow peas a couple of times. The first time I couldn't manage the amount of peas that were produced, the second time I didn't get any at all. I think the best tip is to plant the seeds early enough for the plants to flower before a big frost, maybe March/April, it seems they need to flower b4 it gets too cold. I planted later the next time and no flower's (too cold) so no peas! I hope this helps.
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10 Oct 12, Karina (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it ok to move my growing snow pea plant?
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30 Sep 12, Sylvia (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have Snow Peas growing and look great, flowers etc do I need to pinch out the top so they bush out. The packet said they grew to approx 90 cm. and they are to about that now.
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Showing 131 - 140 of 215 comments
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Snow peas grow fast - my kids LOVE them because of this. TIP: Make sure you have a trellace or something for them to climb on right away because if they don't have anywhere to climb, they will start to become really "sad". Also - roots can go VERY deep, so make sure there's room downwards as well. I used to pot them, but learned quickly that the roots travel too far for small pots.

- Annalisa

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