Botanical Interests® Seeds

Remember as a kid the fun of popping open a pod and eating the sweet green peas found inside? Bring back the memories and enjoy the ease of growing peas on productive plants that reach only 28″ tall. Pods set in pairs atop the plant make harvesting easy. Great for fresh eating and freezing. Disease resistance to leaf curl virus, downy mildew, root rot, and fusarium wilt.

Introduced in 1943, Wando is a cross between ‘Laxton’s Progress’ (an English heirloom) and ‘Perfection’ (a New England heirloom). It is cold tolerant for early sowing, and more heat tolerant than other pea varieties. Sturdy, 24″-30″ plants with 7-9 medium-sized peas in each pod. Sow in early spring and again in midsummer. In mild climates, it can even be sown in fall for winter harvest.

‘Sugar Daddy’ peas were bred by Dr. Calvin Lamborn, the innovative research director that developed the first edible-podded snap pea, ‘Sugar Snap’. However, ‘Sugar Daddy’ has some big improvements—stringless pods, shorter vines, and improved disease resistance. Slender, 3″ pods have a deep green color adding to their appeal. The short plants reach only 24″-30″ tall and don’t need support; a short fence or trellis will make it easier to find and harvest the crunchy peas, though. Pods can be served fresh by themselves or with dip, or added to give crunch to salads. Add to stir-fries and soups or steam for a delicious vegetable. Resistant to powdery mildew and tolerant to bean leaf roll virus.

Wow, a purple snap pea, tender and delicious! ‘Sugar Magnolia’ isn’t just a famous Grateful Dead song, it is also a beautiful, fine-flavored, edible-pod pea with purple flowers. Long hypertendrils (vigorous, multi-branching tendrils) act as extra sturdy supports for 6′-7′ vining plants, creating an airy structure that also helps prevent mildew. A few of these open-pollinated peas may be speckled with green.