Cool-Season Vegetable

When to Plant Sugar Snap Peas

Edible-pod peas with sweet, crunchy pods you eat whole — shell and all. One of spring's greatest garden rewards.

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

Water

1 inch per week

Days to Harvest

55-70

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

Frost Tolerance

high

The Short Answer

Sugar Snap Peas are cold-tolerant and actually prefer cooler growing conditions. You can direct sow seeds 4 weeks before your last frost date — one of the earliest crops you can plant. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Sugar Snap Peas

Sugar snaps are the eat-them-in-the-garden crop — the entire pod is edible, no shelling required, and the flavor straight from the vine on a cool morning is one of gardening's greatest pleasures. Sugar Ann is the standard dwarf variety (2 feet, no trellis needed); Super Sugar Snap needs a 5-6 foot trellis but produces larger pods. The string along the pod seam is the only inedible part — modern 'stringless' varieties have largely eliminated this issue. Sugar snaps are ready when the pod is plump and the peas inside are visible but not bursting through. Flat pods are too young; bulging, yellowing pods are too old.

Direct Sowing

Sugar Snap Peas can be direct sown 4 weeks before your last frost date. Plant seeds 1" deep, spaced 3" apart.

Fall Planting

Sugar Snap Peas are planted in fall, 8 weeks before your average first frost date. Plant 1" deep, 3" apart.

Growing Tips

Direct sow only — peas resent transplanting. Provide 5-6 foot trellis for climbing varieties. Eat pods straight from the vine while still cold from morning dew for the sweetest flavor.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Carrots Radishes Spinach

Keep away from:

Onions Garlic

Sugar Snap Peas Planting Dates by State

Click your state for sugar snap peas planting dates specific to your location:

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026