How to grow Snow Peas in Australia
Sow in full sun to part shade in cool, well drained soil enriched with compost. Provide a trellis or netting for the tendrils to climb.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 5 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 10 cm
- Time to harvest: 60 days
- Time to germinate: 8 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to August | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to September | Same window as shelling peas. Slightly longer winter season than SEQ, especially inland. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | April to August | Extended cool-season window. Trellis climbing types; pick every 2 to 3 days for continuous harvest. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | March to August | Sow Mar to Aug (peak Apr to Jun). Melbourne's cool winter ideal for snow peas. Frost-hardy; trellis to 1.5m. |
| Adelaide & SA | March to August | Mediterranean cool season suits snow peas perfectly. Avoid Sep to Feb heat. Trellis climbing types. |
| Perth & WA | March to August | Mediterranean cool season suits snow peas perfectly. Avoid Sep to Feb heat. Trellis climbing types. |
| Tasmania | February, August to November | Sow Aug to Nov plus a Feb sowing for autumn. Long mild seasons mean months of picking. One of the easiest crops here. |
| Canberra & ACT | August to November | Sow Aug to Nov. Spring is the reliable window; autumn sowings risk losing flowers to hard frost. |
| North Queensland | May to August | Dry season only. Sow May to Aug under shade cloth. Fails in wet season humidity and heat. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to August | Dry season only. Sow May to Aug under shade cloth. Fails in wet season humidity and heat. |
Varieties
- Oregon Sugar Pod
- Mammoth Melting Sugar
- Snow Wind (Dwarf)
- Yakumo (Japanese)
- Golden Sweet
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick when pods are flat, bright and tender with seeds barely formed. Hold the vine and snap or snip the pods; frequent picking keeps the plant flowering.
Storage
Fridge in a bag, eat within 3 days for best crunch. Blanch and freeze for stir-fries.