Alaska Early

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Sweet, cool-season pods that feel like they’re already bursting with flavor—Alaska Early delivers crisp, tender peas with a bright, garden-fresh sweetness.

The compact plants produce abundant, uniformly filled pods for reliable shelling, with peas that hold their shape and offer a clean, succulent bite. Ideal for home gardeners seeking a dependable early harvest at about 55 days, Alaska Early shines in shelling-focused plantings where you want a quick, satisfying yield.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Upright

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Alaska Early is a shelling pea built for speed: pick young and you get a crisp, uniformly tender pop rather than a mealy crush. Cook it briefly—then hit it with butter and lemon for that vivid, sweet finish that tastes unmistakably early-season.

Best Uses

quick steam and toss with browned butter for a glossy coat
stir into a hot pan of butter, garlic, and lemon zest for fast gloss
puree into a smooth pea side or base for soup—keep it loose, not gummy
freeze-friendly shelling: blanch briefly to lock in shape and sweetness

Flavor Profile

bright, garden-fresh sweetness crisp-tender bite with clean pop starchy edge that turns silky when cooked light vegetal fragrance

Kitchen Pairings

brown butter lemon zest garlic parmesan shallot mint

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage powdery mildew on Alaska Early (55-day) plants?

Powdery mildew shows up as a gray-white powder on leaves, often first on the lower foliage. Remove and trash heavily affected leaves, then improve airflow by spacing plants and avoiding overhead watering. If it keeps spreading, spray with a labeled sulfur or potassium bicarbonate product every 7–10 days until new growth is clear.

How often should I water Alaska Early during the main growing phase (weeks 3–6)?

Keep the soil consistently evenly moist—aim for about 1 inch of water per week, split into 2–3 waterings if it’s hot or windy. Check with your finger 1–2 inches deep; water when it feels dry at that depth, not daily on a schedule. Avoid soggy soil because it can trigger leaf diseases and poor root development.

When is Alaska Early ready to harvest at 55 days?

Harvest when pods/heads (depending on the crop you planted) reach their typical size for the variety and the exterior looks firm and fully developed, usually right around day 55. For the best quality, pick in the morning and use the “look-and-feel” cue—avoid harvesting if parts are still loose/soft or undersized, since yield drops with early picking.