Peas: Best Varieties to Grow for Flavor and Yield

Choosing the right pea varieties can make the difference between a good harvest and an exceptional one. After decades of gardening and tasting hundreds of peas, I’ve learned which varieties consistently deliver top-notch flavor and generous yields. Whether you’re growing snap, snow, or shelling peas, these proven performers deserve a place in your garden.

Table of Contents

Best Garden (Shelling) Pea Varieties

Garden peas—also called English or shelling peas—are grown for the sweet seeds inside the pod.

Green Arrow: Heavy yields, excellent flavor, and long pods with up to 11 peas each.
Lincoln: Classic sweet taste and heat tolerance for later plantings.
Little Marvel: Compact plants perfect for small spaces and containers.

Best Snap Pea Varieties

Snap peas have plump, edible pods with a crisp bite and sugary taste.

Sugar Ann: Early-maturing, dwarf variety ideal for containers or small beds.
Sugar Snap: The original, with unbeatable sweetness and abundant harvests.
Super Sugar Snap: Improved disease resistance and bigger yields than the classic.

Best Snow Pea Varieties

Snow peas feature flat, tender pods harvested before the peas fill out.

Oregon Sugar Pod II: Reliable, heavy producer with sweet, stringless pods.
Mammoth Melting Sugar: Large, tender pods with excellent flavor for stir-fries.

Tips for Maximum Yield and Flavor

Plant Early: Sow seeds as soon as soil reaches 40°F for spring crops.
Inoculate Seeds: Use Rhizobium inoculant to boost nitrogen fixation and plant vigor.
Provide Support: Trellises keep vines upright for cleaner, easier harvesting.
Pick Often: Regular harvesting encourages more flowers and pods.

My Experience and Recommendations

In my Sonoma Valley garden, I plant Green Arrow for shelling peas, Super Sugar Snap for snap peas, and Oregon Sugar Pod II for snow peas every season. These varieties reliably provide the best combination of sweet flavor and abundant harvests.

Selecting proven pea varieties matched to your climate and taste preferences will reward you with delicious, high-yielding crops all season long.