Peas are a straightforward crop to grow at home. Sow them at the right time, give them something to climb, and keep them watered while they flower and produce pods. Garden peas, mangetout and sugar snaps all grow in broadly the same way.
Which Type of Pea Should You Grow?
Choose the type of pea based on how you want to eat it.
Garden Peas
Garden peas are grown for the peas inside the pod. Pick them when the pods are well filled but the peas are still sweet and tender.
Mangetout
Mangetout produce flat, edible pods. Pick them before the peas inside have swollen significantly.
Sugar Snap Peas
Sugar snap peas produce thicker, edible pods. Pick them once the pods have filled slightly but are still crisp.
BYF Recommended Variety – Hurst Greenshaft AGM
A reliable choice for UK gardens and allotments, Hurst Greenshaft produces heavy crops of long, well-filled pods with sweet peas inside. The plants reach around 75cm, so they are manageable to support without taking over the bed, and the variety has a strong reputation for flavour, yield and disease resistance.
Check the expected height of the variety before buying seed. Dwarf varieties are easier to support, while taller varieties need stronger support.
When to Sow Peas in the UK
The main outdoor sowing period is March to June. The exact timing depends on your soil, local weather and the variety you are growing.
Wait until the soil is workable and not saturated. Pea seed can rot if it sits in cold, wet ground for too long.
Starting Peas Under Cover
For an earlier crop, sow peas in modules or small pots from February to March under cover. This is useful when the soil is cold or wet, mice regularly take freshly sown seed, or you want to establish plants before planting them outside.
Harden the plants off before planting them outside. Gradually expose them to outdoor conditions over about a week, bringing them in or protecting them at night if frost is forecast.
Can You Sow Peas in Autumn?
Autumn sowing is optional rather than necessary. Suitable hardy varieties can be sown around October or November for an earlier crop the following spring.
It works best in mild areas, sheltered gardens and well-drained soil, or in protected beds, cold frames or polytunnels. Avoid relying on autumn sowing where the soil remains cold and waterlogged through winter, as the seed may rot or young plants may fail before spring.
Succession Sowing
Sow small batches every few weeks from spring into early summer rather than planting everything at once. This spreads the harvest and works particularly well for mangetout and sugar snaps.
Where to Grow Peas
Peas grow best in a sunny, reasonably sheltered position with fertile soil that holds moisture without becoming waterlogged. Remove weeds and add garden compost before sowing if the soil is poor or dries quickly.
Avoid adding fresh manure immediately before sowing, and wait if the ground is cold or waterlogged.
How to Sow Peas
There are two useful ways to start peas: sowing directly outside or starting them in modules.
Option 1: Sow Peas Directly Outside
Direct sowing is the simplest method once the soil is workable and drainage is good.
Make a drill around 5cm deep. Sow the seeds about 7.5cm apart, then cover them with soil and water if the ground is dry.
Protect the row if birds or mice regularly disturb freshly sown peas. Fine mesh or netting can be removed once the seedlings are established.
Option 2: Start Peas in Modules
Starting peas in modules gives you more control over germination and is particularly useful in early spring.
Sow one seed into each module or small pot. Use a general-purpose peat-free compost and keep the containers somewhere bright and sheltered.
Once the seedlings have emerged, keep the compost moist but not saturated, give the plants plenty of light and protect them from severe frost. Plant them outside once they are established and hardened off.
Simple decision: Good soil and mild conditions? Sow direct. Cold or wet ground, or seeds keep disappearing? Start in modules.
Planting Out and Spacing Peas
Plant module-grown peas outside once they are established and hardened off. Do not leave them in small modules for too long, as the roots can become restricted.
A useful general spacing is around 7.5cm between plants. Row spacing depends on the variety, final height and support system, so check the seed packet before planting.
Plan the Row Before You Plant
Work out where the support will go before filling the row with plants. It is much easier to install netting, mesh or pea sticks while the plants are small than after they have become tangled.
Planning pea spacing? Add peas to the free BYF Allotment Planner to see how much room the row will use and make sure there is enough space for the support and neighbouring crops.
How to Support Pea Plants
Put supports in place early rather than waiting until plants start falling over.
Dwarf peas: Twiggy pea sticks or low mesh are usually enough.
Taller peas: Use strong pea netting or mesh fixed to posts, matching the support to the expected height of the variety.
Guide loose shoots towards the support as they grow.
Watering and Feeding Peas
Keep peas watered during dry weather, particularly once flowering begins and pods start forming. Water thoroughly rather than giving frequent light splashes. Container-grown peas need checking more often because the compost dries quickly.
Peas growing in reasonably fertile soil rarely need additional fertiliser. Container plants can be given a liquid feed after flowering begins if growth is weak.
Common Pea Problems
| Problem | Likely cause and what to do |
|---|---|
| Seeds fail to appear | Cold or wet soil, rotting seed or mice taking the seed. Try starting peas in modules if it keeps happening. |
| Young plants are eaten | Check for slugs, snails and pigeons. Protect seedlings with mesh or other suitable barriers. |
| Notches around leaf edges | Often caused by pea and bean weevil. The damage usually looks worse than its effect on established plants. |
| White powder on leaves | Powdery mildew. Keep plants watered during dry weather and avoid overcrowding. |
| Maggots inside peas | Pea moth can damage developing peas. Fine mesh may help where it is a recurring problem. |
| Plants fall over | The support may be too low, weak or installed too late. Add support early and guide shoots towards it. |
When to Harvest Peas
Pick regularly once pods begin forming; frequent harvesting encourages the plants to keep producing. Support the plant with one hand while picking so you do not pull or damage it.
Garden Peas
Pick garden peas when the pods feel full but the peas are still tender.
Mangetout
Pick mangetout while the pods are still flat and the peas inside have not swollen significantly.
Sugar Snap Peas
Pick sugar snap peas when the pods have filled slightly but are still crisp, with the peas inside not yet oversized.
Storing Peas After Harvest
Fresh peas are best eaten soon after picking. Refrigerate them if necessary and avoid washing them until you are ready to use them. Larger harvests can be blanched and frozen.
Can You Grow Peas in Pots?
Yes. Dwarf peas, mangetout and sugar snaps are particularly suitable for containers. Use a large pot with drainage holes, moisture-retentive compost and support fitted from the start.
Keep the compost consistently moist once the plants start flowering, as pots dry out much faster than open ground. Avoid overcrowding and check the variety’s expected height before choosing the container and support.
FAQs About Growing Peas in the UK
Outdoor sowing normally starts in March and can continue into June. Earlier sowings can be started under cover from February or March. Hardy varieties can also be sown in October or November for an optional early crop.
Sow pea seeds around 5cm deep. This is deep enough to protect the seed while allowing the seedlings to emerge easily.
Peas perform best in a sunny position, although they can tolerate some light shade. More sunlight generally helps plants produce stronger growth and better crops.
Most varieties benefit from support. Dwarf peas may only need short pea sticks, while taller varieties need netting, mesh or a sturdy trellis.
Cold, saturated soil can cause seed to rot, while mice may remove freshly sown peas. Wait for better soil conditions, protect the row or start the peas in modules.
Yes. Dwarf peas, mangetout and sugar snaps are particularly suitable, provided the container is large enough, has good drainage and the plants receive regular water.
Pick peas every few days once they start cropping. Mangetout and sugar snaps may need checking daily during warm weather because the pods become tougher as they mature.
Most peas are ready to start cropping around 12–16 weeks after sowing, depending on the variety, sowing time and growing conditions. Early varieties are usually quicker than maincrop peas.
