'Sugar Ann' Sugar Snap Pea Seeds

Days to Maturity: 55

All-America Selections (AAS) Winner 1984

An early, compact variety, 'Sugar Ann' is a seed vegetable, commonly called snap pea, that produces crops 10 to 14 days earlier than most. This little climbing vine, with its curling tendrils, is valued not only for pea production but also for ornamental purposes and can fit beautifully into an edible landscape. The small plant produces pretty white flowers followed by heavy yields of plump, 2 ½- to 3-inch bright green pods. Crisp and exceptionally sweet, the delicious pods can be cooked in stir fries or eaten fresh in salads or with dips.

A hardy herbaceous annual, 'Sugar Ann' Sugar Snap Pea is a member of the legume family (Leguminosae or Fabaceae). The plant grows vigorously, forming a compact, bushy, tendril-bearing vine that rarely needs staking. Its compact size uses space efficiently, making it a great option for small gardens or containers.

Easy to grow and low maintenance, 'Sugar Ann' prefers a sunny location with rich, moist, well-draining soil. The plants are powdery mildew resistant and pea wilt tolerant. Nitrogen-fixing plants, peas naturally improve the soil in which they are planted by taking nitrogen from the air and converting it into a usable form in the soil.

A cool-season, semi-hardy vegetable, one of the first to be planted in the garden, pea seeds can be direct sown as soon as the soil is workable in early spring, before the last frost date, ideally with temperatures ranging between 55 to 65°F. They need cold temperatures to germinate and grow and can withstand light frost and temperatures in the 28 to 32° range. The plants will stop producing when temperatures go above 75°F.