Pea variety

Sugar Snap Pea

The classic snap pea, with thick sweet edible pods and climbing vines. It is one of the most widely grown peas for home gardens.

About Sugar Snap

Sugar Snap is the original snap pea, prized for plump, thick-walled edible pods that stay sweet and crunchy when eaten whole. It won an All-America Selections award in 1979 and remains a benchmark by which other snap peas are judged. The vigorous vines climb to roughly 6 feet, so they need sturdy support.

Growing Sugar Snap Pea

Give this tall climber a trellis or netting at least 5 to 6 feet high, and sow seeds about 1 to 2 inches apart in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Watch for powdery mildew in warm, humid weather, since this older variety has little resistance. Pick pods when they are round and filled but before the peas inside turn starchy, for the sweetest snap.

Other peas varieties

Variety characteristics are general guidance for US home gardens; performance varies by climate, soil, and season. Seed and plant availability differs by supplier. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.