There are three types of peas listed on this page: shell (or English) peas (you eat only the peas inside the pod), snow peas, sometimes called "sugar peas" (the young, slender pods are eaten, very popular in Asian cooking; vine tips and leaves can also be eaten), and sugar snap peas (the round pods are eaten with developed peas inside: these are really excellent!).

Growing directions for peas. (From Cornell University's Cooperative Extension Website - will open in new window: close window to return here). I'd like to stress that peas are an early spring vegetable, they grow best in cool weather. Also note that the Cornell directions say that peas germinate better in warmer soil (although they subsequently do well in cold to cool weather). As a container gardener, this is easy for you. Either wrap the container with black plastic for a few days before you plant, or pour hot water into the soil (again, before you plant) and then let the soil cool to just "warm" before you sow the seeds. Problem solved.

I also would like to add to Cornell's directions: I find that some animal tends to eat my little pea plants when they first sprout: I think it's birds, and probably crows. So I suggest covering your container with chicken wire, or nylon net, or row cover, or clear plastic - just until the little plants are a few inches tall. Then you can safely remove the covering. I just set a piece of chicken wire on top of the container, just a flat piece set over the top of the container.

You can scroll down through all the peas or go directly to one of the three types by clicking here. Please note that we have more than one variety of each types of peas: clicking here takes you to the first variety, then you scroll down to see the others.

Shell (English) Peas

Snow Peas

Sugar Snaps

Pea, Little Marvel - Item #PE101 Pisum sativum Little Marvel was introduced in 1908, making it an heirloom. It's a great choice for the container gardener who doesn't want to erect a trellis or other support for peas. The vines only become about 16" to 20" tall, and produce pods that each contain about 6 to 7 peas, roughly 62 days after planting them directly outside in early spring. These are "English peas" or shell peas (the pod is not edible). Since peas are an early spring plant, after you have harvested them you can plant a summer crop in the same container. Peas, being a legume, enrich the soil too. So they're like a gift! And very delicious. You haven't tasted peas until you taste freshly harvested, home-grown peas! Since Little Marvel is such a dwarf pea, it doesn't actually need support, but a few brushy sticks stuck into the container's soil wouldn't actually hurt anything. I would do this. Recommended container size: 12" depth of soil, 12" in diameter, or larger. Quantity - 40 seeds Price - $ 1.80

Pea, Tom Thumb - Item #PE102 Pisum sativum Tom Thumb is a rare heirloom pea, dating back to the early 1800s. It's unique in that it only gets from 8" to 12" tall: a truly miniature plant, yet it has full-sized pea pods. It's a darling, little plant, well worth growing, in my opinion. It would make a great centerpiece too, and a great part of a child's container garden. It would also look very good tucked around the edges of a large mixed planting. Pea shoots, young leaves, and flowers are all edible and taste like the peas themselves. The photo shows Tom Thumb peas growing in a pot that's 7" high and 10" in diameter. There are 12 (yes, twelve!) plants growing in this pot. Peas, unlike most vegetables, like to be crowded, and crowded they are! The pea plants are just beginning to blossom: you can see the white flowers just opening. Tom Thumb is definitely 'windowsill friendly' : this plant has been grown indoors in our bay window ledge. It could also be grown under fluorescent lights or - of course - outdoors. Tom Thumb is very frost-hardy and only takes from 50-55 days (from seed sowing) to produce peas. Because of both its shortness and its hardiness, Tom Thumb is also an excellent choice for growing in a cold frame. Recommended container size: An 8" diameter, 6" high container should be more than adequate for this very small plant. Of course, larger is OK too. Quantity - 30 seeds Price - $1.50

Snow Pea, Dwarf Gray Sugar - Item #PE106 Pisum sativum Dwarf Gray Sugar is an heirloom variety, introduced in 1892. The vines will grow to about 2' to 3' and will produce snow peas in about 55-60 days from planting (directly outside). It also has a purple-ish tinge to the green foliage, and very pretty reddish-pinkish-purple blossoms. The blossoms are also edible and make a very pretty edible garnish (although, of course, if you pick a blossom, it cannot mature into a pea pod). It is said that Dwarf Gray Sugar has the very best leaf tips, tendrils, and top leaves for eating (they are briefly steamed or stir-fried). It is also highly productive. For best eating, pick the pods when they are about 2 -1/2" to 3" long, and when you can just begin to see the peas developing inside the pods. Even though Dwarf Gray Sugar is a low pea plant, it does need support. Brushy twigs will do, or a circle of chicken wire set in the middle of your container. You can plant peas both inside and outside the circle of chicken wire. There are various other things that can be used for support, including the decorative little fences sold for edging purposes. The important thing is that they be thin for the tendrils to grasp: thick poles (such as 2" x 4"s) won't work for peas. Recommended container size: At least 8" depth of soil, and the area of the container's surface will depend upon how many plants you want to grow. I plant the seeds about 2" apart from each other. Quantity - 30 seeds Price - $1.70

Sugar Snap Peas, Sugar Ann - Item #Pe104 Pisum sativum Short vines (about 27" tall) bear a heavy crop of delicious sugar snaps, ready in about 56 days after seed is sown. Sugar Ann, although short, benefits greatly from some support. Brushy twigs will do, or a circle of chicken wire set in the middle of your container. You can plant peas both inside and outside the circle of chicken wire. There are various other things that can be used for support, including the decorative little fences sold for edging purposes. The important thing is that they be thin for the tendrils to grasp: thick poles (such as 2" x 4"s) won't work for peas. Pick the pods when they are rounded and have visible peas: and hope that you can get to cook some. Generally, when I grow sugar snaps they are devoured raw by whoever is around at the time, and I never get to cook them. (I suppose I could hide them!) They are really delicious either raw or cooked. If you cook them, you only need to steam or stir-fry them a very few minutes. Recommended container size: At least 8" depth of soil, and the area of the container's surface will depend upon how many plants you want to grow. I plant the seeds about 2" apart from each other. Quantity - 40 seeds Price - $ 1.50

Sugar Snap Peas, Sugar Snap - Item # PE103 Pisum sativum If you can possibly manage to create some tall support for your peas, this is the one to grow, as you will get many more pods from Sugar Snap's tall vines than from shorter vines. Sugar Snap will grow to about 6' tall, and the delectable pods will be ready about 70 days from planting the seeds. Sugar Snap is the original sugar snap variety, and still one of the best. It is also an All-American Vegetable Variety Winner. Recommended container size: At least 8" depth of soil, and the area of the container's surface will depend upon how many plants you want to grow. I plant the seeds about 2" apart from each other. Quantity - 40 seeds Price - $ 1.40

Sugar Snap Peas, Sugar Sprint - Item # PE105 Almost stringless, this delicous snap pea, and has a flavor as good as Sugar Ann. The nearly stringless 3" pods are produced on 2'vines that require little or no support. It matures in less then 60 days. Recommended container size: At least 8" depth of soil, and the area of the container's surface will depend upon how many plants you want to grow. I plant the seeds about 2" apart from each other. Quantity - 40 seeds Price - $ 1.60