Penelope

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Planting Schedule

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

Sweetly fragrant from the moment pods swell, Penelope shelling peas deliver a vivid, garden-fresh burst of flavor with tender, bright-green sweetness at peak maturity.

The plants are compact and steady, producing well-filled pods that hold their quality for reliable harvest windows—ideal for home gardeners who want a dependable crop with a refined, delicate texture. Grow Penelope for spoonfuls of plump peas that shine in classic shelling preparations and for preserving when you want that just-picked taste to linger.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 65 DaysHabit: Upright

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Penelope 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	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 29th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 19th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 19th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 23rd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 19th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 17th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 12th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 8th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 5th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 29th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 24th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 14th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 5th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 27th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 10th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 15th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	65
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)	32
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Penelope shelling peas come off the heat with a delicate sweetness and a tender, non-wooly chew—built for minimal cooking that keeps them bright. They’re especially good when you want the pea to taste like it was picked seconds ago, not like a reconstituted vegetable.

Best Uses

quick-steamed shelling peas tossed with butter and flaky salt
lightly simmered peas for a silky green gloss in pasta
folded into spring risotto for pockets of fresh sweetness
quick-cure pickling or canning to preserve that just-picked taste

Flavor Profile

sweet, fragrant snap tender, glassy peas that stop short of starchy bright, lightly grassy finish juicy, spoonable texture

Kitchen Pairings

unsalted butter mint lemon zest Parmigiano-Reggiano prosciutto creamy ricotta

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Pisum sativum (peas) leaves turning yellow and developing spots, and what should I do?

A common issue for peas is powdery mildew (white, dusty growth on leaves) and leaf spot that can cause yellowing and spotting in cool, humid weather. Remove and discard affected foliage, avoid overhead watering, and improve airflow by spacing plants more evenly. If the problem is spreading, treat early with a labeled fungicide for edible legumes and repeat according to the label.

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

During flowering and pod fill, keep soil evenly moist—typically about 1 inch (2–3 cm) of water per week, split into 1–2 deep waterings. Water at the base and stop if the soil stays soggy, because waterlogged conditions reduce root function and can increase disease. A quick check: the top 1 inch of soil should dry slightly between waterings, not bone-dry or swampy.

When is Pisum sativum ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are fully formed and feel firm, with peas filling the pod but still tender—typically around 60–70 days after sowing (your crop is ~65 days). For shelling peas, pick when peas are about the size you want and the pods are bright and crisp, before the peas harden. For edible-pod/snow-type harvest, pick pods while they’re flat and the peas are just swelling—use them soon after picking for best sweetness.