Snow peas may have been named because in bright sunlight their light green pods look as if they might be tinged with frost. One of the oldest vegetables, the earliest recorded pea was grown in 9750 BC on the Thai-Burma border. Since snow peas are a favorite addition to Asian dishes, this pea might very well have been a snow pea ancestor.
In the large family of legumes, the snow pea (pisum sativum macrocarpon) is a flat-podded pea that bears both pods and seeds that are sweet and edible.
Snow peas aren't particular about soil quality, but they do need good drainage. Plant snow pea seeds about 2-inches apart and one to two inches deep. Snow peas grow best in full sun, but in an area where plants receive some shade from the midday sun as the season progresses.
Peas are a cool weather crop. Although snow peas adapt better to higher temperatures than regular peas, for best results you should sow seeds as soon as the soil can be worked. For best germination, keep soil moist yet be careful not to over water, since saturated soil will cause your seed to rot. In fact, the biggest problems you face in growing snow peas are root rot and powdery mildew, both of which begin in soil that is too wet. However, once seeds germinate, plants need to be watered regularly for optimum harvest.
Because they are legumes, there is no need to fertilize snow peas. In fact, legumes make their own fertilizer and are often grown as cover crops to replace lost nutrients to soil. However, snow peas, like most varieties of peas, are climbers and grow best with the support of a trellis, fencing, or beanpole.
When temperatures reach a steady 70 degrees, the rate of growth slows and plants begin to die. Harvest peas when pods are about three inches in length but still flat. You'll need to use your snow peas soon after harvest since they quickly lose their sugar content after they're picked.
Linda is an author of Gardening Tips Tricks and Howto's of Gardening Guides and the Lawn Care section of the Lawnmower Guide.
Linda writes and inspire you to try new ideas from her own experience.
One of the most popular herbs is Ocimum basilicum commonly... Read More
Spring is coming fast and with it the colors of... Read More
A water garden is the area of your landscape that... Read More
"Organic gardening is not just the avoidance of chemicals, in... Read More
A feng shui money tree is an indoor plant used... Read More
Copy-write 2005 Jan Money.Hydroponics gardening offers many advantages to the... Read More
Solar lights are very popular for lighting yards and gardens.... Read More
Buying discount patio furniture is an economical way to obtain... Read More
Fuchsia (named after Leonhard Fuchs, a 16th century German botanist)... Read More
Well it is now September, and the mornings are great... Read More
Composting is where the gardening thing comes full circle. You've... Read More
Recently I got involved with gardening. Preior to that, all... Read More
Summer is over, but for many of us - the... Read More
While traveling the US and occasionally taking the back highways... Read More
Tropical flowers make an exciting change from the more traditional... Read More
A ripe persimmon is a thing of beauty ? sweet,... Read More
A principle of all art is unity. This means that... Read More
The Adirondack chair is unlike any other chair every made.... Read More
The first thing you need to do when deciding to... Read More
Teak has many qualities that make the indoor and outdoor... Read More
The growing of flowering or foliage plants on window ledges... Read More
Slapping yourself silly trying to keep mosquitoes from biting you?... Read More
Palm family is unique in the aspect that most of... Read More
Summer is the most enjoyable water gardening season and the... Read More
Purchased corn, whether on the cob or in a can... Read More
Hydroponics gardening is a great idea for anyone who wants... Read More
I've done a lot of container gardening over the years,... Read More
Landscape wallpaper can be a great addition to your computer's... Read More
With an average lifespan of 75 years, teak wood has... Read More
Hi there,I am Jhon Saunders and recently took up gardening... Read More
These are just a few gardening tips for you to... Read More
Gardening for wildlife has become quite a passion for me,... Read More
There is nothing quite as relaxing as a leisurely evening... Read More
Do you love swimming? Do you dream of an in... Read More
Gardeners, it's time to put your gardening skills to the... Read More
Keeping Your Soil HealthyYour soil is the most important part... Read More
Butterfly gardening is not only a joy, it is one... Read More
Bird watching brings enjoyment to many people. Selecting and correct... Read More
No matter how pleasant a garden is, it is not... Read More
Push Reel Mowers are making a "comeback" of sorts, though,... Read More
Is it possible for a garden sundial to tell perfect... Read More
Everyone seems to love a secret -- and when the... Read More
"I have no plants in my house. They won't live... Read More
Often in February there is a surprisingly warm day. Everybody... Read More
When most people hear the words, "park bench", they envision... Read More
Potatoes are so easy to grow in the no dig,... Read More
In an effort to introduce a shaft of sunlight into... Read More
If you look closely at the natural landscape, you'll never... Read More
An important addition to any British back garden, the greenhouse... Read More
Today is Thursday the 23rd of June and we're almost... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening Landscaping & Gardening |