Mr. Big

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Mr. Big to a garden.

Sweet, garden-fresh peas burst with a vivid, candy-like snap—Mr.

Big delivers generous, shelling-sized kernels that hold their bright flavor from pod to bowl. Expect tender, medium-deep green peas with a smooth, plump texture that stays satisfying even after brief cooking, making them a standout for classic shelling and hearty seasonal favorites. Grow Mr. Big for the pleasure of filling your harvest with consistently large peas at about 60 days, ideal for gardeners who want big results from a compact, productive planting.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Clumping

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Mr. Big 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	Clumping
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

Mr. Big shelling peas are built for speed—hit them with brief heat and they keep that plump, snap-tender bite instead of turning grainy. Their big, sweet kernels make butter, lemon, and mint feel instantly garden-fresh.

Best Uses

quick-braised or steamed pods-to-bowl peas (30–60 seconds on the heat)
shelling for butter-slick skillet peas with black pepper
folding into pasta with lemon zest and a loose pan sauce
lightly simmered in a spring soup where kernels should stay intact

Flavor Profile

candy-sweet pea flavor vivid snap-forward texture smooth, plump kernel mouthfeel

Kitchen Pairings

unsalted butter lemon zest mint parmesan garlic black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem is most common on Pisum sativum (peas), and how do I address it?

For garden peas, powdery mildew and pea aphids are the most common issues. Spray aphids off with a strong jet of water and, if needed, use insecticidal soap, aiming at the undersides of leaves; for powdery mildew, improve airflow by keeping plants spaced and avoid watering the foliage—water the soil at the base instead.

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

Keep soil evenly moist from when seedlings establish through pod fill, which is the period your plants will grow most actively. Water about 1–1.5 inches per week in total (more during hot, windy weather), and irrigate when the top 1 inch of soil starts to dry so pods don’t stall.

How can I tell when Pisum sativum ‘Mr. Big’ is ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are full but still tender—typically around 60 days from sowing, with pods reaching usable size a bit earlier depending on temperature. If you open a pod and the peas inside are plump and bright green (not hard and starchy), pick promptly; frequent harvesting encourages the plant to keep producing.