This was the favourite pea from my little 2024 sugar snap trial. It had been saved by a friend of mine for a number of years who got it from the Seed Co Op in the UK. It is very vigorous and crops over a long period. Peas are deep green, very sweet, totally stringless and have great flavour. The fact that it was listed under the name ‘Sugar Snap’ implies that this variety has a lineage back to the first sugar snap variety which was created and released in 1979 by plant breeder Calvin Lamborn.
A very early and productive pea. Being a round seeded type, First Early May is frost hardy and suitable for autumn sowing to get the earliest crops. Grows to about 140cm so needs support like most garden peas.
‘Ambrosia’ produces a good yield of medium sized pods early in the season. Not the tallest pea but still needs some support. They are great for eating raw or cooking al dente. Pick regularly to encourage more flowering and more pods.
Sourced from Bakers Creek in the US, apparently the first ever purple podded sugar snap pea. Bred by Alan Kapuler. Very tall growing more than 2m so needs high trellesing. The plants are very tendrilly and pretty, ornamental in their own right. They produce pods over a long period. The smaller pods are best for eating raw whilst the older ones are great cooked al dente. They keep their colour with cooking unlike purple french beans.
Capucijner is an heirloom purple podded pea. Young peas can be eaten raw but the variety is typically used for its dried peas which were a staple food in Holland some time ago. They’re an excellent addition to soups and stews. A tall vigorous pea which needs supporting.
‘Hetman’ is a great tasting stringless sugar snap pea. Crops early and heavily but within a short window, so I would succession sow this one to spread out the harvest. Reaches a height of 100cm so needs trellising.
Sugarsnap peas have edible pods that lack the fibrous ‘parchment’ layer which is present in the inner walls of the pods of other peas. They are great for eating raw or cooking al dente.
An early maturing variety which crops well and is resistant to pea wilt and downy mildew. Short growing at around 50cm tall. 6-8 sweet flavoured peas per pod. It is good to make two sowings, in Spring and again in early Summer, to extend the harvesting period.
