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Annual Biennial

Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon

snow pea

The subspecies of pea which has given rise to all the peas which have edible pods, 'eat all' or 'mange tout' in French. They include the flattened pods and the thick, fleshy pods often called snap peas. It is a green-leaved annual which climbs using tendrils. The flowers are white, pink or mauve and develop into green pods containing green peas

Other common names
mangetout
snow pea
see moresugar pea
sugar snap pea
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
1 year
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer White Pink Purple Green Green
Autumn
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H2
Botanical details
Family
Fabaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Climbing
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

Name status

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Sow 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.

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Edible fruit
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to pea moth, aphids, pea and bean weevil, pea thrips, pigeons, slugs and snails. Mice may eat newly-sown seeds

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, downy mildews, foot and root rot, Fusarium wilt, grey moulds, pea leaf and pod spot, and virus diseases

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