Sugar snap peas are a popular cool-season vegetable known for their crisp, edible pods, which are a cross between shelling peas and snow peas. The height a plant achieves depends on its genetic makeup, typically ranging between 2 to 8 feet. Understanding the two primary growth habits is the first step in predicting how tall your plants will grow.
The Two Main Growth Types
The primary factor determining a sugar snap pea’s final height is its growth habit, which is categorized into either bush or vining types. Bush varieties, often described as dwarf or determinate, have a more compact growth pattern that rarely exceeds a height of 2 to 3 feet. Cultivars like ‘Sugar Ann’ or ‘Delikett’ fall into this category, reaching approximately 24 to 30 inches before they naturally stop growing.
These shorter, self-supporting plants typically produce their crop over a shorter, more concentrated period. In contrast, vining varieties, which are indeterminate, will continue to grow and produce pods for an extended season, often reaching impressive heights. The classic ‘Sugar Snap’ cultivar is a tall climber, commonly growing 6 to 8 feet high, and some can even exceed this range.
Essential Support Structures
Due to the height potential of vining types, providing a sturdy support structure is necessary to manage growth and maximize production. Sugar snap peas climb using specialized, delicate tendrils that coil around any thin object they encounter. These tendrils function as anchors, allowing the vine to ascend and keep foliage and developing pods off the ground, which reduces the risk of disease.
Support systems must be installed early, ideally immediately after the seedlings germinate or are transplanted, to give the young vines a surface to latch onto right away. Common methods include using trellises, netting, or a vertical string system, which should be at least 6 feet tall to accommodate the full growth of tall varieties. The material used should be relatively thin, as the pea tendrils wrap most effectively around structures less than a quarter-inch in diameter. A robust structure ensures the plant’s weight is managed, as a fully mature 8-foot vine laden with pods can be surprisingly heavy.
Environmental Factors Influencing Height
While the variety dictates the plant’s maximum genetic height, environmental conditions determine whether it can actually reach that potential. Sugar snap peas thrive as a cool-season crop, performing best in mild temperatures between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Excessive heat, particularly temperatures consistently above 80°F, will cause the plant to enter a state of stress, which severely inhibits vertical growth and can halt pod production entirely.
The plants require full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, to fuel vigorous vertical growth. Consistent moisture is crucial, especially once the plants begin to flower and set pods. A lack of water during this stage can stunt development and prevent the vines from achieving their expected height.
Well-drained soil rich in organic matter provides the necessary foundation for growth. Peas are not heavy feeders and actually enrich the soil by fixing nitrogen.