How to Grow Sugar Snap Peas

Sugar snap peas in a garden.

Growing sugar snap peas is easy and requires minimal care. Sugar snap peas are a cool-weather crop that should be planted two to four weeks before the last frost in the spring, or six to eight weeks before the first frost occurs in the fall.

Things You'll Need

• Garden trellis, fencing or other vine support
• Hammer
• Seeds
• Trowel
• Hose
• Inoculant for peas (optional)

Instructions

1. Choose an area that gets at least six hours of sun a day and has partial shade. Soil should be well-drained and rich in organic matter.

2. Install a trellis next to the row where your sugar snap pea seeds will be planted. Using a hammer, pound the garden trellis posts into the ground. Make sure the trellis is stable and doesn't rock back and forth. If the trellis moves, take your hammer and pound the posts deeper into the ground.

3. Plant the sugar snap pea seeds 1 inch deep, 2 inches apart and leave 3 feet between rows. You can also plant two rows 6 inches apart with a trellis between them.

4. Keep the soil moist and avoid over watering it, as this can cause the sugar snap pea vines to rot.

Tips & Warnings

• Inoculant keeps the nitrogen levels in the soil at a "fixed" level and will enhance growth and give you more sugar snap peas on the vine. It can be found at any garden center or place that sells seeds. Follow directions for use on the package.

References

• Weekend Gardener

Resources

• Veggie Gardening Tips