Oregon Sugar Pod Peas History

Oregon Sugar Pod Peas are known as one of the best snow peas. The short 28″ vines need only minimal support and produce huge quantities of 4″ pods. The pods should be harvested before the seeds form for best flavor. Good disease resistance, bred by Dr. James Baggett at Oregon State. Freezes well.

Oregon Sugar Pod Peas Growing

plan to sow seeds outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost date, when soil temperatures reach at least 45°F (7°C). Here are some more tips on when to start planting peas. Traditionally, St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) signaled that it was time to plant peas. It’s a delicate balance of proper timing and weather conditions. If your garden tends to stay too wet, consider investing in raised garden beds.

A blanket of snow won’t hurt emerging pea plants, but several days with temperatures in the teens could. Alternatively, try starting your peas in a cold frame. A second round of peas can be planted in the late summer or early fall, approximately 6 to 8 weeks before your first fall frost date. Fall plantings are typically not as productive as spring-grown peas, but they make for a nice fall snack nonetheless!

Harvesting Oregon Sugar Pod Peas

Most pea varieties are ready to harvest 60 to 70 days after planting. To avoid damaging the stem, use one hand to hold the pea vine and the other hand to pull off the pea pods. After picking, promptly cool peas in a cold water bath, then dry them. Eat fresh peas soon after picking for the best flavor. They typically last in the refrigerator for up to a week. Click here to learn more.

How To Cook Oregon Sugar Pod Peas

Super sweet and full of flavor, roasted sugar snap peas are like green candy – you won’t be able to leave them alone. Try roasting a batch today!

Preserving And Storing Peas

Wash the pea pods. Snap off and compost or discard the stem ends of the pods, get a large bowl of ice water ready. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drop the sugar snap peas into the pot of rapidly boiling water. Let them cook for just 1 1/2 minutes. Drain the sugar snap peas quickly in a colander.

Immediately transfer the sugar snap peas to the bowl of ice water. This stops the residual heat in the peas from continuing to cook them. Leave the peas in the ice water for 2 minutes. Once again, drain them well in a colander. Spread the blanched sugar snap pea pods in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze for 1 to 2 hours (until completely frozen through). Transfer the frozen sugar snap peas to freezer bags or containers and label with the date. Frozen sugar snap peas will keep for 8 months. They are still safe to eat after that, but their quality will decline. Click Here to learn more

Pea Nutriton

Sugar snap peas and snow peas share identical nutritional profiles and are less starchy than a typical shelled pea. They’re also low in calories and provide many nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and folate. Due to their vitamin C, vitamin K and fiber content, both sugar snap and snow peas may offer various health benefits, including reduced heart disease risk, improved blood pressure control, gut health and weight loss. Sugar snap and snow peas can be enjoyed raw as a nutritious and healthy snack — simply remove their hard outer string.

Other Pea Varieties Worth Checking Out

 Dwarf Grey Sugar Pea

 Little Marvel pea