Easy step by step instructions on how to presprout and grow Sugar Snap Peas. By doing this you’ll be sure that the seeds won’t rot before they sprout under the soil resulting in a successful plant and many pounds of sugar snap peas to pick!
How to Grow Sugar Snap Peas
Presprouting Sugar Snap Peas is a important step to growing big Sugar Snap Pea plants. By doing this you’ll be sure that the seeds won’t rot before they sprout under the soil (due to temperature). It also guarantees that you won’t be wasting your time planting some seeds that might not even sprout at all causing you to wait and fall back in the garden season schedule.
Germinating peas
This is our quick and easy method for presprouting peas. We’ve been doing this for the past many years with a successful sugar snap pea harvest twice a year.
Presprouting Peas Directions
Step 1: Drop your peas in a bowl of water to get them wet.
Step 2: Dampen a full sheet of paper towel. Put your peas in the middle of the paper towel and wrap up, like a envelope.
Step 3: Put the peas in a plastic bag or covered container. Check on the peas daily. If you notice the paper towel is getting dry, add a few drops of water to make sure it stays wet.
Step 4: The peas will take a few days to sprout. On average ours take 3-4 days to sprout.
Once they sprout then plant them as usual in your garden bed or ground. I also recommend a good inoculant (that’s the one we use) on your peas when planting.
How to Plant Peas
After the peas are germinated, then you can plant them straight into your garden beds or soil. We dig a little trench in the soil and throw the peas in, usually about 3 inches apart. Then we’ll cover them up, push down on the soil gently with our hands and then sprinkle them with water. Here’s my walk through on how to plant peas!
Then you wait for the first one to pop through the soil which usually takes over a week. It’s a exciting time where every day you will run to the garden to see the first one. Once the first one pops up the others will follow quickly.
And soon enough you’ll have pounds of sugar snap peas to pick and eat!
Sugar Snap Pea Recipes
Sugar Snap Pea and Cauliflower Casserole
More Garden Tips
How to Make Sub Irrigated Planters
How to Protect Plants From Frost
How to Grow Tomatoes From Seed
Hope you enjoyed this easy trick to get your garden sugar snap peas started!
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How to Grow Sugar Snap Peas
PrintIngredients
- sugar snap peas
Instructions
- Drop your peas in a bowl of water to get them wet.
- Dampen a full sheet of paper towel. Put your peas in the middle of the paper towel and wrap up, like a envelope.
- Put the peas in a plastic bag or covered container. Check on the peas daily. If you notice the paper towel is getting dry, add a few drops of water to make sure it stays wet.
- The peas will take a few days to sprout. On average ours take 3-4 days to sprout. Once they sprout then plant them as usual in your garden bed or ground. I also recommend a good inoculant (that’s the one we use) on your peas when planting.
Snixizzy says
Super reliable method for pre- sprouting! I’ve used this for years and found excellent growth once they break through the soil.
Other methods of just using wet paper towels without the long soak don’t work, seeds mush and rot.
Good info here, great instructions…. been gardening for 30+ years, plant over 700 peas, recommend this method. Thanks for the post!
Pamela Reed says
So happy to hear this has been working for you. Enjoy your peas!
Michele says
Unless you have a roof rat that eats all your seedlings. Then, you will just have sadness and regret.
That’s why I am trying these indoors. Thanks for the post!
Lylah says
I had some pods i wanted to dry out but put them into the refrigerator and now they all have sprouts growing can i still dry for next year???
Lee says
Awesome! I was wondering can they go straight from presprouting to the ground? no need to harden off?
Pamela says
Absolutely, once they’ve sprouted they can go straight into the ground – no hardening off needed.
SmallStrawby says
hi there!
I going to attempt this over the weekend.
Followed all your instructions (thank you!), which were very easy to understand and user-friendly. I did have one remaining question.
After I rinsed and soaked the peas in water, wrapped them in a wet paper towel, and then placed it in a ziplock (and put that ziplock in a container – I’m a bit neurotic haha), I was wondering where I should leave the container carrying the peas? As in, should I keep the container of pees in the fridge or should I just leave them in a cool dark spot (like a kitchen cabinet)? In either case, I will check on them daily to ensure that the paper towel is still moist and add more water as needed.
If you could please advise me with where to physically place the container of the germinating peas, that would be extremely helpful.
I have experience germinating other fruits and veggies and have found that it can be beneficial to use a heating mat that can (depending on the seed) help speed up the germinating process. Are you able to advise if utilizing a heating mat in this scenario would still be advantageous?
Any advise is appreciated! Thank you for the incredibly helpful article.
Pamela says
Hey! Just leave somewhere indoors, outside of direct sun. We put ours on our kitchen counter (not in direct sun) to monitor. We def use a heating mat for many of our seeds (my post about it: https://brooklynfarmgirl.com/how-to-use-a-heat-mat-and-thermometer-for-seed-germination/), but it’s not needed for the peas. Wishing you a big pea harvest soon! 🙂
Dennis says
Hey Brooklyn Farmer Girl I’m in Virginia and have been gardening for many years. This method of presprouting peas is something I’ve never tried before…until now Just now finished planting some and maybe you saved the day! Thanks for your article..
snixizzy says
Excellent instructions and video! I’ve been presprouting peas this way for years, every one grows after planting in raised beds.
Alex says
We’re they fresh peas or dried?
Pamela says
They are dried seeds.
KKelz says
I have got peas out of there pods and have had them in the fridge for a few days. I am now wondering if I could plant them / germinate them to grow plants myself.
I have always grown dried peas from the packet, so wanted to know if I can do it from fresh peas rather than drying them out first?
I am sure that there are many other people wanting to know the same thing, but doesn’t seem to be anywhere easy to find out the answer.
Hopefully you can help me and many other people with the answer.
Therese says
I am researching it myself. I just read an article that said to plant in July for fall harvest. I planted all my seeds in April. Out of 15 plants, 3 grew. Thinking I would take a few now and throw them in the ground. Seems like there is only one way to see if it works.
Lylah says
What if they already have sprouts can i dry for next year??
asfjkhsgh says
HI, im in 8th grade doing something on peas for a sci fair and this is my first time growing plants so this might be a dumb question but as i said I’m new to this, so specifically for pre sprouting does this process require light?
Pamela says
Hi, you can place the container anywhere, no additional light is needed. Good luck with your peas! 🙂
Candy Austin says
I have hybrid sugar snap/pea tendrils seeds I grow for chef’s as shoots and I have had the worst problem with germination and mold. I’m definitely going to try this method. THANK YOU! Will let you know.
Pamela says
Hey Candy, we have never had mold issues with this method and we’ve been doing it for a while. Best of luck!
Bette Davis says
Dear Pamela, we went away for month of January and came home to find that the snap peas I left in refrigerator sprouted! What can I do to with them? Can I plant them using the whole pod?
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I LOVE all your gardening and farm posts, because they are seriously SO helpful! BUT, I always get so jealous!! I can’t have a garden because the deer here just eat everything. I’m going to have to keep living vicariously through you, girlfriend! However, should the day come I can ever have a garden, I have all these posts bookmarked! 😉 Cheers and thanks for all the great 411!!
Pamela says
Aww thanks Cheyanne! I hope one day you’ll have the garden of your dreams! Have you thought about putting up a fence? I know it’s hard work but if you put up a tall fence, it will keep the deer out.. that’s what we do Upstate with the many deer that live on our land! Good luck! 🙂
John/Kitchen Riffs says
Great tip! I’ve had mixed success with my sugar snaps. I should try your method — I know from your huge harvests that it must work!
Keri @ Fashionable Foods says
I’ve always wondered if pre-sprouting peas would be beneficial… glad to know it is! I’ve always been lazy and never do it, but I’m definitely going to this year. What a great harvest!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Very helpful and cool! Those sugar peas look really fresh and great.