Peas 101

When it comes to growing vegetables, peas just don’t get the credit they deserve. According to data from the National Gardening Association, 86 percent of home gardeners want to grow tomatoes, while only 24 percent grow peas. (Insert shocked gasp from this pea-loving northern gardener.)

Here’s the pressing question: why NOT grow peas? Peas are among the very easiest vegetables to grow—unlike tomatoes, which can be persnickety if the conditions aren’t ideal. Peas are flexible and forgiving. If you plant them, they’ll grow. They like to cooperate and they like to produce. And despite those canned peas you might recall from your childhood, fresh peas are delicious!

Types of peas

OK, let’s demystify some lingo. You’ve probably heard of shelling peas, snow peas, snap peas—what’s the difference? Shelling peas are sometimes called English peas or garden peas, and the distinction is that these peas don’t have edible pods; you’ll have to shell the peas first.

Snap peas and snow peas both have edible pods; the difference here is the type. Snap peas have plump pods while snow peas have thinner pods, but in both cases you’ll want to harvest when the peas are small and tender. Shell peas should be harvested once they’re beginning to fill out the pod.

When it comes to specific varieties, just grab those seed catalogs and get started! You can’t go wrong with Little Snowpea White, Green Beauty, Sugar Magnolia, or Swenson Swedish. All are prolific producers and super delicious. If space is limited, you can even grow peas in a container—just choose a dwarf variety like Dwarf Grey Sugar or Tom Thumb—no trellising required!

Growing peas

The growing requirements are straightforward—plant peas as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. Aim for well-drained soil and plant your seeds ½ to 1 inch deep and about 2 inches apart. Space your rows 18 to 24 inches apart. Your peas will want some kind of trellis to climb as they grow, and they like sunshine and regular watering. Your peas will be happiest in the cooler parts of the growing season—spring and fall—and you can prolong your harvest by picking peas regularly, which encourages them to keep producing.

Bonus tip: Growing peppers in the same bed with the peas is a secret to success with peppers (the peas give the soil a nitrogen boost). Give it a try!

Peas are the perfect choice for eager northern gardeners who want to get started in the garden right away in the spring. All of those frost-sensitive plants can wait for another day, but peas are ready when you are!

Samantha Johnson is the author of several books, including Garden DIY, (CompanionHouse Books, 2020). She lives on a former dairy farm in northern Wisconsin with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Peaches and frequently writes about pets, gardening and farm life.