Brown's GYO Sugar Snaps

Sugar Snap pod walls are fleshy like a Runner Bean so can be eaten whole when young, raw or cooked, or later can be shelled like normal peas. The plant grows to a height of approximately 150cm. The peas are full sized peas and not flat like some other pea varieties. These are a favourite to grow as they have a long growing season due to them bearing well in both hot and colder seasons. Sugar snaps can be used in stir fry dishes, casseroles or eaten raw.

Many young people today have never seen a pea-pod and only recognise peas if they come out of a plastic bag! We think this is a sad state of affairs because when grown fresh, peas are a totally different vegetable to those that are frozen. To get the sweetest flavour, peas are best cooked when picked young and cooked within 30 minutes of harvest, before the sugar has turned to starch.

When to Sow Sugar Snap Pea Seeds

April to June

Where to Sow

Prepare a flat bottom drill 5cm (2in) deep and 10cm, (4in) wide.

What to do next

Space seeds 5cm (2in) apart throughout the drill allowing 60cm (24in) between the drills, then cover over with soil and gently tamp down with the back of a rake. It is advisable to give some net protection against birds, once seedlings start to grow, then add some net support for plants to climb and hold the crop. Alternatively very early spring sowings can be made in February or March into a length of plastic gutter or modular cells under glass and then planted out against wires. Slide contents of gutter into a shallow drill made in the plot or space modular plants 10-15cm (4-6in) apart once hardened off.

Maturity

July to September

Handy Tip

As plants grow and the crop matures, stems can get quite heavy especially after rain, so may require extra tying to the main support netting.

Nutritional Values

A good source of Pro-Vitamin A and Vitamins C, B1 and folic acid.