Swiss Giant Snow Pea
Pisum sativum
Delightful as an ornamental and an edible variety.
For the Swiss, peas are part of their national identity. Primitive garden peas were found during excavations beneath houses of the ancient Swiss lake dwellers, which date back to the Bronze and Stone Ages. Much later, but not too far away, Austrian monk-scientist Gregor Mendel used peas in his famous experiments to demonstrate the heritable nature of specific traits. These experiments led to an essential understanding of genetics that still informs seed savers and seed breeders today.
Tall, robust vines double as an ornamental with large bi-colored flowers in shades of pink and burgundy. 5' vines produce high yields of 3-4" pale, sweet pods.
from $3.99
| Unit | Price | Quantity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Pack (50 seeds) | $4.99 | In Stock | |
| 50 Seeds | $3.99 | In Stock | |
| 4 Ounces | $9.99 | In Stock | |
| 1 Pound | $19.99 | Out of Stock |
Price as selected:
For best results, inoculate before sowing to boost the nitrogen levels of your garden soil. Inoculant is available at garden centers. Sow as soon as the soil can be worked for a late spring crop, or in late summer for a fall crop. Trellising not required, though all peas prefer it. Harvest pods when plump but not bursting. Frequent and steady harvests help plants to continue to produce. Saving seeds is easy: just let some peas dry on the vine.
| Days to Germination | 7-10 days |
|---|---|
| Days to Maturity | 60 days |
| Planting Depth | 1" |
| Spacing in Row | 1-2" |
| Spacing Between Rows | 36" |
| Height at Maturity | 72" |
| Width at Maturity | 2" |
| Sun Preference | Full to Partial Sun |
Artwork by Sara Pearce (1952-2020). Sifting through history to learn about the origins of plant varieties is like going on an archeological dig. Through collage, Sara reimagines giant peas, slaloming down Swiss slopes, towards the buried remains of early dwellers.