How to grow snow peas in a raised bed

Snow peas give you the whole flat pod, sweet and crunchy, with none of the shelling — a fast, generous cool-season crop that kids happily eat straight off the vine.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun
• Spacing: 5–8 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 23 cm or 35 cm depth
• Time to harvest: 9–11 weeks
• Support: a trellis for climbing types

When to plant: Snow peas like it cool — sow from autumn through late winter in most areas, early spring in cold zones. Sow directly where they're to grow. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

Growing them in a raised bed: Sow seed into the mix and give climbing types a trellis to scramble up. They're legumes, so they don't need much feeding.

Watering and feeding: Keep the soil evenly moist, especially at flowering and podding. Water the soil in the morning to keep mildew at bay.

Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids, caterpillars and thrips. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

Common diseases: the main ones are powdery mildew and downy mildew. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

Companion plants: Carrots and beans are good companions; keep peas away from onions and garlic. See our companion planting guide.

Harvest and storage: Pick the flat pods young, while the peas inside are just forming — that's when they're sweetest. The more you pick, the more they produce.

More growing guides: peas, sugar snap peas and broad beans.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Renee Comet (Photographer) / National Cancer Institute, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.