How to grow snow peas in Australia
Also known as: Mangetout
Snow peas are peas grown for their flat, tender pods rather than the peas inside. You eat the whole pod, picked young while the peas inside are still tiny. They're sweeter than regular peas, faster to harvest, and produce continuously over weeks rather than in a short burst. They handle the same cool-season conditions as shelling peas but tolerate slightly warmer weather, which makes them a better choice in subtropical and tropical gardens where shelling peas struggle.
When to plant
Snow peas need cool conditions to grow well — similar window to shelling peas but with slightly more heat tolerance.
April to August in the dry season. Snow peas handle tropical climates slightly better than shelling peas.
March to August. Productive across the cool season.
March to September. Long productive window. Succession plantings extend harvest.
March to September. Melbourne is excellent snow pea country.
February to September. Hobart and Canberra produce the sweetest snow peas — cool conditions concentrate the sugars.
March to August. Cool dry winters suit snow peas well.
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Snow peas are grown identically to shelling peas — direct-sown, climbing support for most varieties, slightly alkaline soil, legume inoculant for best yields in new soils.
Spacing: 5–10cm between plants in rows 60cm apart for climbing types.
Depth: 2–3cm deep.
Support: Almost all snow pea varieties climb to 1.5–2m and need substantial support. Mesh trellis or strong netting works well.
Soil: Same as shelling peas — slightly alkaline, not too rich.
Succession planting: Sow a short row every 3–4 weeks for continuous harvest. Snow peas produce over a longer window than shelling peas, but successions still help.
Pots, raised beds, or in-ground?
Snow peas work in all three options — same as shelling peas.
In-ground with a permanent trellis is the standard.
Raised beds with a trellis at the back work well.
Pots with a tall trellis support climbing types. A 30+ litre pot suits 4–6 plants with a 1.5m support.
Sunlight & water
Full sun to part shade. Same as shelling peas.
Water consistently during flowering and pod development.
When and how to harvest
Pick snow peas when pods are flat, bright green, and 6–8cm long. The peas inside should be barely visible. Once peas inside swell visibly, the pods toughen — at that point either eat them as shelling peas (the inside peas are still good) or leave them on the plant to mature for dried seed.
Pick every 2–3 days during peak production. Snow peas produce continuously when picked regularly.
Best used fresh — they don't store well. Use within 2–3 days of picking.
Common problems
Same as shelling peas: powdery mildew (the main threat, especially toward end of season), birds (net young seedlings), aphids (water spray, ladybirds).
Companion planting
Same as shelling peas. Plant near: Carrots, beans, radish, lettuce, brassicas, corn. Keep away from: All alliums.
Australian varieties
Oregon Sugar Pod — Classic snow pea variety, productive over a long season. Climbing habit. The standard.
Mammoth Melting Sugar — Heritage variety with very tender pods. Climbing habit, productive.
Sugar Snap Bean (also a snap pea — separate type, but often grouped with snow peas) — Plump edible pods that you eat whole, peas and all. Distinct from snow peas which are flat. Same growing habits.
Dwarf Sugar — Compact variety (60–90cm), suits pots and small spaces.
Yakumo — Japanese-bred snow pea, productive, sweet flavour.