The More You Grow: Sugar Snap Peas

One thing I've learned about growing peas as a family of 6 is the older your kids get, the less peas you harvest. :)

Joe always loves to tell stories of how he would stuff pea pods in his pockets to snack on throughout the day when he was a kid. Our kids are definitely taking after him by doing the same thing, and I don't blame them! I will say, shelling peas has become much easier since we have 3 eager helpers to do that job now, too!

Sugar snap peas grow on a vine and are planted when other cold crop vegetables are planted. We sow seeds in the middle of March, and we start to see them come up within a few weeks later.

Once they begin to vine out, right before they bloom, we like to get wire panels set up so they can vine up the panel.

This just helps us when it comes time to harvest peas to make it easier to see and pick the pods. They don't always defy gravity once the pods start producing and the vines become heavy. Sometimes we try to help the vines climb up by carefully guiding them in a weave-like pattern. It's pretty cool to see the little tendrils (side shoots) grab on and wrap around the panels as if they're holding on for dear life.

Why do we grow peas?

If you've never tasted peas picked straight out of a garden, you are missing out! One of the sweetest treats to snack on, they are a great source of Vitamin C, which helps maintain a healthy immune system, and Vitamin K, which benefits our bones. It also has iron, a red blood cell producing nutrient. (source)

They are also a healthy source of complex carbohydrates, and a great source of protein and fiber! You can eat them pod and all, or shell the peas and put them in a recipe (like our favorite Peas and Potatoes). When we have an abundance, we will freeze in freezer bags after a good washing. We've had them keep for about a year in the freezer!

When they are nice and full (like the picture above), it's time to pick! You can leave the thin ones on to fill out more and pick at a later date. Peas don't really tolerate the hot summer temperatures, so they're usually done by mid-late June.

Happy picking!!!