Pea seeds — sweet Pisum sativum: shelling, mangetout and sugarsnap
Fresh peas straight from the pod are one of the great joys of growing your own — sweeter and more tender than anything from a shop. From shelling peas to flat mangetout and crunchy sugarsnaps, browse the Pisum sativum family within our peas and beans range. New to the veg patch? Start with our vegetable growing guide.
Peas like it cool. They're one of the first crops to sow — the calendar shows the early windows.
Types of pea to grow
Shelling peas give classic sweet peas to pod, mangetout are picked flat and whole, and sugarsnaps are eaten pod and all. Most need twiggy support like their cousins the climbing beans, while dwarf types suit our container range and crop quickly enough to join our fast-growing vegetables.
Growing tender, sweet pods
Sow direct into cool, moist soil — our soil guide helps — and give even support early. Pick often once the pods fill, as regular picking keeps plants productive; our harvesting guide shows how to handle a glut. As legumes, they need little feeding.
Love pea shoots? Sow thickly for sweet, tender shoots to snip for salads in just weeks.
Popular vegetable categories: Pisum sativum · Peas & Beans · Climbing Beans · Bush Beans · Fast-Growing Veg
At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I sow peas?
Early — they like cool conditions, so sow from early spring, with some types sown in autumn.
What's the difference between mangetout, sugarsnap and shelling peas?
Mangetout are eaten flat and whole, sugarsnaps are eaten whole when plump, and shelling peas are podded for the peas inside.
Do peas need support?
Most do — twiggy sticks or netting — though dwarf varieties need very little.
Do I need to feed peas?
Very little — as legumes they fix their own nitrogen.
Can I grow pea shoots?
Yes — sow thickly and snip the young shoots for sweet salad greens within weeks.