Iona

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Planting Schedule

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Sweet, vivid pods with a crisp snap—Iona Petit Pois delivers a garden-to-plate burst of fresh pea flavor at about 60 days.

The compact plants produce slender, tender pods packed with plump, uniformly sized peas that stay sweet and crisp for quick harvests. Ideal for fresh eating, light steaming, and vibrant springtime salads, Iona is a standout choice when you want petite, flavorful peas with a clean, delicate texture.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

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Iona Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jul 31st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 24th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 14th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 18th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 12th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 7th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 3rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 30th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 24th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 19th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 9th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 31st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 22nd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 5th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 10th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
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)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Iona Petit Pois are small and uniform, built for speed: cook them just until they turn glossy, and they’ll keep their crisp snap instead of going starchy. The sweetness and clean green finish love butter-lemon brightness and salty fats like prosciutto or parmesan.

Best Uses

quick sauté or flash stir-fry to keep the snap
light steam and dress with butter, lemon, and flaky salt
toss into spring salads where they stay crisp
stir through thin soups for a fresh pea pop

Flavor Profile

sweet, vivid pea flavor clean snap with a tender bite light, green-herb finish

Kitchen Pairings

butter lemon fresh mint parmesan prosciutto crème fraîche

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common pest or disease on Pisum sativum (pea) and how do I manage it?

Powdery mildew often shows up on peas as a white, dusty coating on leaves and can reduce yields by stressing plants. Improve airflow by spacing plants and removing heavily infected leaves, then water at the base early in the day (avoid wetting foliage). If it’s spreading, use an appropriate sulfur-based or potassium bicarbonate fungicide according to the label and repeat as directed during humid stretches.

How often should I water Pisum sativum during the main growing phase?

During flowering and pod fill (roughly after plants establish until harvest), keep soil consistently evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply about 1–2 times per week, increasing to 2–3 times per week in hot weather or during dry spells—aim for the top few inches to stay damp. If the soil dries fully between waterings, peas can abort flowers and make smaller pods.

How do I know when Pisum sativum is ready to harvest?

Harvest snap peas when pods are firm, bright, and about 2–3 in (5–7 cm) long, with peas inside near full size but still tender. For shelling peas, pick when pods are well-filled and the peas look plump and glossy; avoid waiting for hard, starchy peas. Check every 1–2 days once plants start producing, because peas quickly transition from tender to tough if left too long.