Varieties

There are many varieties of garden pea. Some of the most common include the following:

Alaska, 55 days (smooth seeded)

Thomas Laxton/Laxton's Progress #9, 60 days

Mr. Big, 60 days, 2000 AAS winner

Little Marvel, 63 days, 1934 AAS winner

Early Perfection, 65 days (This variety is the foundation of many improved varieties and crosses, including Dark-Seeded Early Perfection and Bolero, the latter being one of the most successful commercial varieties.)

Kelvedon Wonder, 65 days, 1997 RHS AGM winner

Wando, 68 days

Green Arrow, 70 days

Tall Telephone/Alderman, 75 days (tall climber)

Variations of P. sativum include:

Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon is commonly known as the snow pea

Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon ser. cv. is known as the sugar or snap pea

Both of these are eaten whole before the pod reaches maturity and are hence also known as mange-tout, French for "eat all". The snow pea pod is eaten flat, while in sugar/snap peas, the pod becomes cylindrical but is eaten while still crisp, before the seeds inside develop.