How to Grow Sugar Ann
Pisum sativum
Sugar Ann is a reliable heirloom variety of garden pea known for its sweet flavor and compact growth habit. Gardeners prize this cool-season crop for its ability to thrive in cooler weather while providing fresh pods rich in nutrients.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Sugar Ann: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Sugar Ann is not usually started indoors.
Sugar Ann is best direct-sown rather than started indoors; simply plant the seeds in the garden bed two to six weeks before the expected last frost date.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your soil by ensuring it has a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, as peas prefer slightly acidic to neutral conditions. Since Sugar Ann is a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors two to six weeks before the last spring frost date. Plant the seeds about one inch deep in well-draining soil. You can expect germination to occur within seven to fourteen days under appropriate moisture and temperature conditions.
Space plants two to four inches apart to allow room for development without overcrowding. Although Sugar Ann is a bush variety, providing light support like twine or cages helps keep pods clean and makes harvesting easier. Maintain consistent soil moisture by watering about one inch per week, ensuring the soil stays damp during flowering. Apply organic mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Watch for aphids, pea weevils, cutworms, and thrips; inspect plants regularly and remove pests by hand or use insecticidal soap if infestations occur. Prevent powdery mildew, root rot, bacterial blight, and downy mildew by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest pods when they are plump but before seeds inside fully mature, typically fifty-one days after sowing.
When to Plant Sugar Ann
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | July – September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Sugar Ann
✓ Good companions
Peas improve soil nitrogen for carrots, while carrots help break up soil for pea roots
Repels aphids and other pests that commonly attack pea plants
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control pea pests
Cool-season crop that grows well in pea shade and benefits from nitrogen fixed by peas
Attract beneficial insects and help deter harmful nematodes in the soil
Deters ants and aphids, though should be contained to prevent spreading
Quick-growing radishes help break up soil and can be harvested before peas need the space
Shares similar growing conditions and benefits from nitrogen fixation by pea roots
✗ Keep away from
Allelopathic compounds can stunt pea growth and interfere with beneficial root bacteria
Competes heavily for nutrients and can harbor thrips that damage pea pods
Can inhibit pea growth and nitrogen fixation through root secretions
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
