Sugar Star

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Planting Schedule

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Sweet, crisp pods arrive with a luminous snap—Sugar Star’s tender, stringless-style pods are prized for their candy-like flavor and juicy crunch.

The pods develop a clean, uniform green and hold their texture well, making them a standout for fresh snacking straight from the garden and for quick sautés that highlight their natural sweetness. Grow Sugar Star for a long, rewarding harvest window and a garden-to-plate experience that feels as bright as spring.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 58 DaysHabit: Clumping

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Sugar Star 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	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

Sugar Star snap peas are built for speed: the pod texture holds a juicy crunch, so they shine whether you’re devouring them raw or just kissing them in a hot pan. The sweetness and clean, bright finish make them a natural foil for butter’s nuttiness and lemon’s edge—no heavy sauces needed.

Best Uses

eat raw as a crunchy snack—pods stay snappy instead of turning starchy
flash-sauté (high heat, minimal time) to keep the luminous green and stop the sugars from fading
toss into warm buttered rice or noodles at the last second so they gloss but don’t overcook
quick pickling for sweet, crisp cocktail-style bites

Flavor Profile

candy-sweet, garden-fresh sugars juicy snap with a tender, almost succulent bite clean, pea-like herbal brightness without harshness

Kitchen Pairings

brown butter lemon zest and juice garlic parmesan mint

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Pisum sativum (sugar snap peas), and how do I treat it?

Watch for powdery mildew, which shows up as a white, dusty coating on pea leaves during warm, humid spells. Improve airflow by spacing plants and watering at the soil line, then remove heavily infected leaves early to slow spread. If it persists, use a labeled fungicide for powdery mildew on edible legumes and apply according to the label every 5–7 days as conditions favor disease.

How often should I water sugar snap peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon) during peak growth?

During flowering and pod fill (mid-plant to about the last third of the 58-day season), keep soil consistently evenly moist—about 1 inch of water per week total, adjusting for heat and wind. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil dries out, because peas will form smaller pods if they experience repeated drying. Avoid wetting the foliage, especially in the afternoon, to reduce mildew risk.

How can I tell when Sugar Star sugar snap peas are ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are fully formed but still tender—typically around 58 days from sowing—before the seeds bulge hard. Pick pods that snap cleanly when bent; if the pod feels tough or the peas inside are noticeably bulky, you’ve waited too long. For best sweetness and continued podding, harvest every 1–2 days once pods start maturing.