Sunfire

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Planting Schedule

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

Sunfire peas burst with a bright, sunlit sweetness—tender, plump kernels that feel buttery-smooth in the pod and shell cleanly for a satisfying harvest.

Expect a classic shelling texture: crisp when fresh, then gently yielding when cooked, with a vivid green color that stays inviting. Grow Sunfire for peak flavor at about 60 days, and enjoy its abundance in springtime bowls, hearty soups, and vibrant vegetable mixes.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

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Sunfire 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

Sunfire is a shelling pea built for speed: the kernels go from snappy to custardy in minutes, staying sweet and vividly green. Use it in butter and broth or steam-sauté with lemon and you’ll get that buttery-smooth mouthfeel without dulling the pea’s fresh brightness.

Best Uses

quick-sauté in butter with a splash of water to steam-tenderize
tossing into spring risotto or pasta for clean, starchy gloss
blending into a silky pea soup or puree with olive oil
folding into omelets or frittatas so the kernels stay bright

Flavor Profile

bright, sunlit sweetness fresh snap to tender yielding bite vivid green, mildly grassy pea flavor buttery-smooth kernel texture when cooked

Kitchen Pairings

butter lemon mint parmesan olive oil chicken stock

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common pea (Pisum sativum) pest or disease problem, and how can I address it?

Powdery mildew is a frequent problem on Pisum sativum, showing as a white, dusty coating on leaves, especially in humid or crowded conditions. Improve airflow by spacing plants and watering at the soil line (not overhead), and remove heavily infected leaves early. If it’s spreading, apply a labeled sulfur-based fungicide according to the label when you first see symptoms, and stop treatments once plants begin to decline heavily.

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

During flowering and pod fill (roughly weeks 4–8), keep the soil evenly moist so pods develop well—aim for about 1 inch of water per week, adjusted for rainfall. Water deeply 1–2 times per week rather than light daily watering, and check that the top 1–2 inches of soil are moist before watering again. Letting the soil fully dry out between waterings can cause poor pod set and smaller pods.

How do I tell when Pisum sativum (Sunfire) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are plump and peas inside are well-filled but still tender—typically around 60 days from sowing for this type. Pick every 1–2 days once pods start producing, because Pisum sativum can quickly become starchy and tough if left on the vine too long. For snap or edible-pod peas, harvest pods while they’re crisp and just showing full size, before the pod surface toughens.