How to Harvest Snap Peas

Co-authored by Ben Barkan and Sophia Latorre

Last Updated: March 2, 2022 References

If you’ve got sweet, crisp snap peas growing in your garden, you’re probably looking forward to snacking on them just as soon as they’re ripe. But, how do you know when snap peas are ready to harvest? We're here to help with a comprehensive guide that will walk you through how to harvest snap peas and make the most of these tasty legumes.

1

Plan to harvest snap peas 50-70 days after planting.

Start picking your peas about 2 months after sowing the seeds. Don’t worry, your pea plants will keep producing, and harvesting ripe peas actually encourages the plants to grow new ones.^{[1]
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2

Look for pods that are plump and firm.

Snap a pod in half and look for thick walls and small peas. You can certainly do a taste test, too! Ripe peas are bright in color as well as crisp and sweet.^{[2]
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Research source} If you wait until the peas are too large inside the pods, the pods get pretty tough and stringy.^{[3]
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- Harvest any over-ripe pods you see, as well, to encourage your plant to produce new peas.
- Discard yellow or speckled pods.^{[4]
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3

Harvest peas after the morning dew dries.

This tip will ensure your peas are the most flavorful. If you harvest them too early in the day, the dew can cause your peas to rot more quickly. If you harvest them in the heat of the day, they won’t be as tasty.^{[5]
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4

Use shears to cut the peas off of the vine.

Snapping them off by hand can kill the vine. Instead, take a pair of shears or scissors and simply snip the pea pod from the vine just above the small star-shaped leaf at the top of the pod. Easy peasy! (See what we did there? 😉)^{[6]
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- If you don’t have any garden tools on hand, hold the vine with one hand and pluck the pea pod with the other to minimize damage to the vine.

5

Work from the bottom of the vine to the top.

Peas at the bottom usually ripen first. The same is true if you have a bush variety. Search through the vines thoroughly to make sure you get all of the ripe peas.^{[7]
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6

Continue harvesting peas on a daily basis.

Check your pea plants every 1-3 days for newly-ripe peas. Pluck them as soon as you notice them ripen. Not only will you increase your harvest, but this also encourages your plant to continue producing peas. Keep harvesting until you’ve plucked all the peas from the vines.^{[8]
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7

Refrigerate the peas and try to use them right away.

Cool the peas as soon as you’ve plucked them. To preserve the texture and flavor of the peas, take them inside immediately after harvesting.^{[9]
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Research source} Store the peas in a plastic bag and stick it in your refrigerator.^{[10]
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Research source} Snap peas will be the tastiest right after harvesting, so feel free to start munching!

8

Store your peas in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

These legumes won't last long after harvesting. However, you can store a small batch for a short time—the peas will last up to 14 days in the fridge.^{[11]
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- Discard any peas that are brown, have spots on them, or feel mushy.

9

Wash the peas just before cooking or eating them.

Washing the peas helps to remove dirt and debris. Rub the pea pods while rinsing them under running water. There’s no need to use vegetable wash or any other type of cleaner—water will do the trick!^{[12]
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- Don't wash your peas before you store them. Wait until you're ready to use them.
- Some varieties also have strings that need to be removed.^{[13]
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  Research source} Cut off the very tip of the pea and you'll see the string attached—just pull it down the seam of the pea pod and throw it away.

10

Freeze the peas to preserve them long-term.

Blanch your snap peas before freezing so they retain their flavor. Heat a pot of water to a rapid boil and submerge the peas, pods and all, for 1-2 minutes. Remove the peas and dunk them in an ice-water bath to chill them and stop them from cooking. Dry the peas thoroughly, then put them on a single layer in a tray and stick them in the freezer until they are frozen solid. Then, store the peas in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 year.^{[14]
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11

Eat the peas by themselves or toss them into dishes.

Enjoy fresh snap peas right off the vine, pod and all! These sweet, crunchy veggies make the perfect snack.^{[15]
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Go to source} You can also roast, sear, steam, or sauté them!
- Pea vines and leaves are also edible.^{[16]
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