Growing Snap Peas for Container Gardening! This DIY is perfect for square foot gardening and small garden spaces!
On March 27 we planted our Sugar Snap Peas, hoping we’ll be harvesting baskets full in a few weeks!
This year we really stepped up our Sugar Snap Pea game. In the past we usually planted 2 rows in 2 boxes equaling 28 plants. This year we planted.. 80 plants!
We love snap peas!
I know, we went wild. Not only did we plant the usual 2 rows in 2 boxes, but we planted a entire box full of Sugar Snap Peas!
We’re 2 people, we could have 80 sugar snap pea plants, so that means whenever you need peas just give me a shout out and I’ll share ours with you!
Last year we planted the Sugar Snap Peas on March 14, but due to the cold weather we had to push it back close to 2 weeks. We needed the soil to reach 40 degrees before throwing the peas in to make sure they going to be able to grow up. Last year we started pre-sprouting our peas (here’s a how to I made last year) which I really recommend.
Pre-sprouting will make sure your beans will grow once they’re in the soil as you’ll visually see they have already started. This makes growing more stress free as if it’s already pre-sprouted you can be pretty sure it will pop through the soil in a few days and that it’s not rotting underneath.
How to grow sprout peas:
Here’s our many presprouted peas!
We mix our sprouted Sugar Snap Peas with seed inoculant right before planting. We use a small amount of this just to coat the outside of the peas. This little bag here was $4 and it can treat up to 8 pounds of peas and beans. Inoculant encourages high-nitrogen levels on roots for bigger plants which will yield more harvest!
Then we tested the soil levels. The soil’s temperature was slightly above 40 degrees which was exactly what we wanted!
Then the planting began! But first let’s admire Matthew’s beautiful technique, HEHEHEHEHEHEHE.
Ok, sorry. Back to planting. We make 2 rows in our 4×4 boxes. We only grow 2 rows in these boxes because they will also grow onions, lettuce and carrots in the Spring. In the middle of each row we’ll place a 8 foot tall fence for the peas to race up on. The fence will be put into the soil once the sugar snap peas break through the surface and begin itching to climb.
Then we drop a few sugar snap peas into each row. Usually we plant 8 peas in each 4 foot long row.
Grow strong little guy! I’ll be waiting for you on the other side of the soil!
With 2 boxes and 4 rows of peas, this adds up to 32 sugar snap pea plants! These are planted in the boxes we freshened up with compost and turned a few weeks ago. You want to give your peas a healthy home!
The last box we just went Sugar Snap Pea wild. Instead of doing rows, we just poked holes into the soil and dropped the peas in. This box is exclusively for Sugar Snap Peas and has a trellis already attached that the peas will grow up and take over soon enough!
After you drop the peas in, then pat the soil to cover and wish them a sweet good night. If your soil is not wet and you aren’t expecting rain that night, you’ll want to lightly water the soil on top.
Have fun growing snap peas!
That’s it.. now you wait for the Peas!
And when they arrive…. get ready to pick pounds of peas each day!
Snap Pea Recipes
Looking snap pea recipes? Click here!
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Ruby @ The Ruby Red Apron says
Lots of useful info! Thanks!
I’ve been putting gardening and planting on my to-do list and haven’t gotten to it yet. And it’s April now? Next year, maybe? ๐
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Wow 80 plants!! That’s awesome! You should start a little farmer’s market right outside your building! I’d come by and support that little business venture ๐
Sophie says
Good luck with them! I have 12 plants of lower peas growing in my containers. these pea plants will only grow anout 60 cm in height max! I am curious! I never grew them before,…x
sonia the mexigarian says
I haven’t had luck with snap peas in the past. A few springs of edible pods but not much. I’ll have to give a try again this year.
The snap pea bushel picture looks amazing. how do you get it to grow so greatly?
Pamela says
Good luck Sonia! In the beginning we help wrap around the fence and then they do the rest of the climbing work! We just make sure to keep them watered good, the roof loves to dry things out.
Katie says
I planting sweet yellow peas this summer! And of course, a few kinds of snap beans too.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I did grow some sugar snap peas and garden beans last year….wish I had more space in my balcony.
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent says
Love your garden posts! Thanks for sharing.
yummychunklet says
Oh, I wish I could plant these in my apartment somehow!
Suzanne says
Hope you get a boatload of sugar snaps, I know you will and I am waiting eagerly for your post about squirrels, they decimate my garden every year. Very discouraging.
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ says
I am almost envious ๐ we can’t have anything like that in central London! Beautiful little (not too little) garden.
cheri says
Thanks for some great tips, can’t wait to start my own. Your garden sounds pretty substantial. Love it!
Koko says
I love sugar snap peas! At first, I must admit, I thought those were sprouted chickpeas!! I should forward this info to my dad, at home, “Farmer Bob” as we call him. I’m sure he’d loved these tips for the garden…that way I can eat all the results if I’m home in time ๐
Mary Frances says
I love sugar snap peas! Just had some for lunch actualyl ๐ We are looking at planting for our garden right now, but sugar snap peas weren’t on the list – thanks for reminding me!
John@Kitchen Riffs says
I really should try presprouting some seeds this year. Makes total sense. Love to see you getting your garden going — I need to do the same with mine. Inspiring post — thanks.
kelly @ hidden fruits and veggies says
I sort of totally flaked on my garden last year, so I’m super excited to get started! Your little sprouted peas are so adorable, love em.
ela@GrayApron says
No, I don’t remember planting any Sugar Snap Peas lately…Looks like a lot of work. You guys look like pros! ๐ ela
Alice says
These little sprouts are so dainty and delicious in themselves. I love the system you have set up with the trestle and I’ve no doubt these delicious babies will be growing in no time!
Looking forward to seeing these treats thriving soon ๐
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
Fingers crossed you’ll be harvesting a big batch of snap peas soon! They’re one of my favorite springtime veggies. We’re just hoping the squirrels don’t rob us of tomatoes again this year… then maybe next year we’ll get adventurous with more crops, ha!
Pamela says
Good luck Georgia! I have a helpful (hopefully) squirrel post coming soon, be on the lookout!