- Sugar snap peas: origin and characteristics
- Plant Sugar Snap Peas
- Caring for Sweet Peas
- Sugar peas in a potgrow
- Harvesting and storing mangetout
- Sweet Peas Flavor and Uses
- Common Pests and Diseases on Sweet Peas
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The sugar snap peas are a popular summer vegetable from your own garden. We give you all the important tips to successfully grow sweet peas at home.
A few years ago, the classic wrinkled peas were still the most popular variety of peas. Today, the crunchy and sweeter sugar snap peas (Pisum sativum subsp. sativum convar. axiphium) are considered the favourite Consumer. The exact origin of the sugar pea has not yet been clarified due to its long use, but it is assumed to be in India or North Africa. Sugar snap peas were already used as a source of protein and as the basis for many dishes in ancient times.
Sugar snap peas: origin and characteristics
The snow pea is known by many names depending on the region, such as kefen, snow peas, snap peas, pine peas or mangetout. It belongs to the genus of garden peas (Pisum sativum) and is therefore part of the legume family (Faboideae), a subfamily of legumes (Fabaceae or Leguminosae). The sweet pea plant grows as an annual herbaceous plant that reproduces via the fruits that are formed in pods. It forms climbing or creeping bluish-green main shoots that can grow up to 1.5 meters long and are covered in foliage. In addition to the main shoot, several thin side shoots can be formed. The ovate leaves are usually entire and rarely toothed. As with garden peas, the inflorescence of the sugar pea consists of one to three flowers. The white sepals are usually bell-shaped and are decorated with a corolla. The pods, which are around 10 cm long and each contain between four and ten round seeds, form from the fertilized flower.
Especially in delicatessen shops, the sugar snap pea pods often come from overseas and are transported to Germany by air freight. In the meantime, however, the vegetable is also being grown commercially in some areas of Germany with deep and nutrient-rich soil. In your own gardenthe cultivation with some background knowledge is also easily feasible.
Plant Sugar Snap Peas
The sugar snap pea has hardly any special location requirements: Deep soil in a sunny, airy location already provides the best conditions. On the other hand, very sandy and very heavy clay-rich or compacted soils are unsuitable. A humus-rich soil that can hold water well but does not tend to waterlogging is ideal. Compaction in the subsoil is not conducive to pea cultivation because root rot can occur more easily here. Anyone who has been growing vegetables in the same bed for a long time can occasionally resort to the help of a soil activator, which promotes soil life and can increase the humus content. In this way, a good supply of nutrients to the plants is ensured and the soil is protected in the long term in order to ensure the cultivation of vegetables in the future. Our Plantura organic soil activator, for example, is able to create a symbiosis between fungi and plants thanks to the additional mycorrhiza fungi it contains. Thus, the plant is supported in the water and phosphate supply. Due to the purely biological components and the absence of animal ingredients, our Plantura organic soil activator is also produced sustainably and is kind to the environment.
The sugar pea is one of the weak-eating vegetables. Through a symbiosis with nodule bacteria, it absorbs fixed nitrogen, which it later introduces into the soil. Since sugar peas are poorly tolerated by themselves, there should be a break in cultivation of around four to six years before cultivating again on the same area. This prevents the transmission of foot and wilt diseases such as fusarium. Mixed cultivation is no problem with carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus), cabbage varieties (Brassicaceae), fennel (Foenicum vulgare ), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) or radish (Raphanus sativus var. sativus) possible .
The best time to sow sugar peas is between March and the beginning of April, as damage from longer periods of frost can no longer occur here. Sowing too late can result in a lower yield due to reduced flowering. In milder regions, sowing is usually possible from the beginning of March; the sugar snap pea tolerates short frosts without any problems.
Sowing takes place directly in the bed, for this purpose a garden rake is used to make seed grooves about 3 to 5 cm deep in the loosened soil. Ideally, the grooves will be like thisaligned to run in a north-south direction. This ensures that the plants are evenly exposed to light and thus that the pods grow evenly. A row spacing of about 35 cm should be maintained between two grooves so that the mangetout plants have enough space for he althy growth. You can also set up a climbing aid in the intermediate area so that the plant can grow upwards. In this way, the sugar snap peas reach a height of up to 1.5 meters. Then the seeds can be placed in the groove at a distance of about 10 cm before it is closed and the soil is lightly pressed. Finally, the soil should be watered well to promote germination. The snow peas begin to sprout after just one to two weeks.
Tip: For snow peas - as well as for other climbing cultures - it is helpful to use a climbing aid. This increases yields and at the same time improves the quality of the peas. The sweet pea trellis allows light to reach all parts of the plant more evenly, allowing the fruit to grow and ripen better. It also makes harvesting easier because you can spot most of the pods at first glance and don't have to look for them.
Growing mangetout at a glance:
- Sowing takes place between the beginning of March and the beginning of April directly into the bed.
- The sugar snap pea seeds should be planted about 3 - 5 cm deep in a seed groove. The distance between the grains is about 10 cm, the distance between the rows is about 35 cm.
- At temperatures of 10 to 18 °C, sugar snap pea seeds germinate within one to two weeks.
- A climbing aid improves yield and quality. It also makes harvesting easier.
In addition to the sweet pea, there are many other types of peas. Please also read our overview of new, tried and tested and resistant pea varieties.
Caring for Sweet Peas
During the vegetation period, sugar snap peas require moderate care, especially if the site conditions are right. From sowing, even before germination, weeds should be raked once a week. In this way, there is no competition for nutrients and light between the snow peas and the weeds. As soon as the plants are about 15 cm tall, they start weeding themselves through their growthsuppress. Raking is only rarer, usually not necessary at all. In addition, the earth can now be heaped up around the young plants, which promotes lateral root formation and thus improves water and nutrient uptake. In addition, the plants can be guided in the direction of the climbing aid and attached to it with the first shoots. During growth, it is important to regularly guide the sweet peas further up the trellis so that all parts of the plant receive the same amount of light and can grow well.
The sweet peas are not hardy. As annual, herbaceous plants, they die back in autumn and naturally sprout again in spring through the seeds from the pods.
Watering and fertilizing sugar peas
Thanks to its deep roots, the sweet pea is able to provide itself with a good supply of water. However, until the seeds germinate, it is important to keep the soil constantly moist to support initial growth. Regular watering is important in dry regions and during longer periods of drought in summer so that the plants do not dry out.
Sugar peas are legumes that live in symbiosis with so-called nodule bacteria. These nodule bacteria are able to fix nitrogen from the air, convert it into nitrate and thus make it available for the plants. If the soil conditions are he althy, further fertilization is not necessary during the entire vegetation period.
Cutting snow peas
It is not necessary to cut sugar snap peas. If growth becomes too sprawling, protruding shoots can easily be directed back to the climbing aid. They can also be cut off if necessary. You should regularly remove diseased or dry shoots and leaves.
Caring for Sugar Peas Properly:
- Initially weeds should be kept small and raked.
- During growth, guide regularly along the trellis so that all parts of the plant receive an even amount of light.
- Sugar peas are legumes and live in symbiosis with nodule bacteria, which can bind nitrogen from the air. Additional fertilization is therefore not necessary.
- Dry conditions require regular watering.
- You don't need to cut the sweet pea.
Sugar peas in a potgrow
Mangetout can also be planted in pots if you keep a few points in mind.
Because they are sensitive to longer periods of cold, the sugar snap peas should not be brought outside until mid-April, but they can be preferred indoors.
The pot should be big enough, as the sugar snap peas have a deep-reaching root system trains. A high-quality vegetable soil is suitable as a substrate, which ideally supplies the plant with nutrients due to its composition. Because of the loose structure of the soil, he althy root growth is also supported. Our Plantura organic tomato and vegetable soil not only meets the requirements of the plant, it is also made from sustainable, organic materials and does not require any peat at all. The further procedure for sowing is the same as for bed sowing - only the mangetout can be sown more densely with a distance of about five centimeters.
In the pot, it is important to ensure an even water supply, as the plants cannot access water from deeper layers of the earth.
Harvesting and storing mangetout
The harvest is usually possible from June when the pods are still light green and you can clearly see the peas inside from the outside.
To harvest the sweet peas, you can pluck the ripe pods from the plant and collect them. The pods should not be stored for too long, as after a day or two at the latest, the sugar they contain will increasingly turn into starch and the taste will change as a result. The freshly harvested sugar snap peas can be blanched briefly and then safely frozen in order to gently thaw them again at a later point in time. Overripe pods quickly lose flavor and quality.
Sweet Peas Flavor and Uses
The taste of mangetout is, as the name suggests, much sweeter than other types of peas. You can already harvest young, not quite ripe pods. These are very good for eating the sugar snap peas raw. Unlike garden peas, sugar snap peas do not have a parchment layer inside the pod, which is why the pods can be eaten whole. Hence the name "Mangetout", taken from the French: The French "Mange tout" means "eat everything". The pods can also be cooked, fried or boiled very well.
Tip: A cross between marrow peas and sugar peas, so-called “marrow sugar peas” or snap peas, is also popular. The pods can be like sugar snap peaseaten whole, while the kernels inside are larger and crunchy like marrow peas. Their taste is slightly sweet.
Common Pests and Diseases on Sweet Peas
Fungal diseases and pests can occasionally affect the plant. The infestation with powdery mildew is favored by damp, cool morning hours. In contrast to other fungal diseases, this can also affect the plant during shorter leaf-wet phases, but it can also be dry and warm during the day. To prevent an infestation, it can help to grow the sweet peas in a spot that is already exposed to the sun in the morning and to water them in the morning instead of in the evening. Mildew-resistant varieties have been developed through breeding, which are used particularly in home gardens and in organic farming.
The Fusarium fungus is the second important antagonist that often affects legumes such as the sugar snap pea. If the plant is infected with Fusarium, the leaves will first discolor slightly, then wither and eventually turn black. By considering appropriate crop rotation, you can prevent infestation with the Fusarium fungus.
The pea moth is the only relevant animal pest on sugar peas. It mainly affects them between May and June, when the plants form the fruit pods. If the pest has already been sighted in your own or in the neighboring garden, you should use a protective net at all times to keep it away from the he althy plants.
Are you still looking for other exciting types of vegetables for your garden? For example, we will tell you here how you can plant and care for perennial sea kale.