Sugar Daddy

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Planting Schedule

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

Sweet, crisp pods arrive with a luminous snap—Sugar Daddy’s stringless, sugar-forward peas are a garden delight from first harvest to the last.

The pods are bold, full-bodied, and tender, with a juicy crunch that shines whether you enjoy them straight from the vine or toss them into quick, vibrant preparations. Grow Sugar Daddy for a steady stream of market-class snap peas that stay pleasantly sweet and never turn tough.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 58 DaysHabit: Bush

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Sugar Daddy 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 29th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 22nd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 12th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 12th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 16th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 12th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 10th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 5th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 1st – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 28th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 22nd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 17th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 7th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 29th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 20th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 3rd – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 8th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 28th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	58
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Sugar Daddy snap peas are all about the luminous snap—stringless pods that keep their sweetness and body even under fast heat. Use them at the last moment (or raw/blanched) so the pods stay glassy-tender instead of going flat and starchy.

Best Uses

blanch-and-shock for a glossy, bright side that stays crisp
quick sauté with butter until just blistered, not steamed into softness
raw snacking or shaving into salads for a luminous crunch
stir-fry add-in in the final minute for sweet snap-pods

Flavor Profile

sugar-forward sweetness juicy, snappy pod crunch pea-like snap with a clean green finish stringless tenderness for quick cookery

Kitchen Pairings

ginger garlic butter lemon soy sauce parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Pisum sativum (sugar pod peas), and how can I manage it at home?

A frequent problem is powdery mildew, which shows up as a white, dusty coating on pea leaves and can reduce pod fill. Improve airflow by spacing plants so leaves don’t stay crowded, water at soil level (not over the foliage), and remove badly infected leaves early. If mildew starts spreading, treat with an appropriate sulfur-based fungicide label rate and reapply as directed, focusing on leaf surfaces.

How often should I water sugar pod peas during their main growth phase?

During the period of rapid flowering and pod development (roughly mid-season), keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. Water deeply about 1–2 times per week, increasing frequency to prevent drying out during hot spells; the top few inches should feel slightly moist, not dry. Consistent moisture helps prevent flower drop and misshapen pods.

How do I know when sugar pod peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon) are ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are sweet and crisp, before peas become starchy—typically around the 58-day mark. Look for pods that are full-sized but still tender, with no bulging hard bumps inside and pods that snap easily when bent. Pick every 1–2 days during peak production to keep plants from passing quality to older, tougher pods.