How Long Does It Take for Sugar Peas to Produce in South Carolina?

Planting Times

• Peas can withstand light freezes and frosts, but their blossoms cannot, and they suffer in summer heat and humidity. This affects their planting times in South Carolina. For best growth and fastest maturing times, plant peas from Jan. 10 through 20 in warmer, coastal areas, from Jan. 20 through 30 in the central part of the state and from Feb. 1 through 15 in the cooler, interior Piedmont region.

Harvesting Peas

• How long it takes for peas to mature depends on the cultivar. You can pick early varieties in 55 to 64 days, but mid-season varieties will not be ready until 65 to 70 days. Pick snap peas when the pods are plump but before you can see individual seeds. If snap peas get overripe, you can shell them like English peas or let them dry and shell the dried peas for use in soups. Pick snow peas when their flat pods are fully developed, about 3 inches long, and their seeds are less than half their full size. They’ll typically be ready to pick about one week from flowering.

Snap Pea Maturation Rates

• Clemson University horticulturalists recommend “Early Snap” (Pisum sativum “Early Snap”), “Sugar Sprint” (Pisum sativum “Sugar Sprint”) and “Super Sugar Snap” (Pisum sativum “Super Sugar Snap”) for planting in South Carolina. “Early Snap” matures in 58 days, while “Sugar Sprint” and “Super Sugar Snap” require 64 days to mature.

Snow Pea Maturation Rates

• Clemson horticulturalists recommend “Snowbird” (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon “Snowbird”), “Dwarf Gray Sugar” (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon “Dwarf Gray Sugar”) and “Oregon Sugar Pod II (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon “Oregon Sugar Pod II”) for planting in South Carolina. “Snowbird” matures in 58 days; “Dwarf Gray Sugar takes 65 days; and “Oregon Sugar Pod II” peas are ready in 68 days.