Approximately 20 seeds
62 days to maturity
Like most peas, sugar snaps are a cool weather crop. The best time for planting is early, 2-4 weeks before the last frost date in spring, or 6-8 weeks before the first frost date in the fall.
You need to decide which variety you are planting, as the original Sugar Snaps are a vine, growing to 6ft tall at times, and definitely need some type of support, even if it is a large tomato cage or a trellis.
The bush varieties like Sugar Ann can be grown without support, and will tend to mature more quickly, but the harvest is shorter in time and overall less productive than vine types.
Using organic methods of adding manures or compost to amend the soil or fertilizing with a single application of a slow release or organic fertilizer at planting time will be all that you need. Plant the seeds 1/2 to 1 inch down, at least 2 inches apart.
Unlike regular snap peas that are often harvested before the peas mature and are eaten mainly as flat pods, sugar snaps are allowed to develop peas in the pod. Harvest the Sugar Snaps when the seeds in the pod are plump, but do not let them go too long. Snap peas that have gone past maturity will become starchy in taste and do not taste nearly as good as those in their prime. Pick them and refrigerate them or freeze them quickly, as the sugars will be turned to starch if they are left on the vine or even stored at room temperature.
