Snap pea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Snap pea |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Species | Pisum sativum |
| Cultivar group | Macrocarpon Group |
| Cultivar group members | Many; see text. |
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 176 kJ (42 kcal) |
|
7.55 g
|
|
| Sugars | 4.0 g |
| Dietary fiber | 2.6 g |
|
0.39 g
|
|
| Saturated | 0.0039 g |
| Monounsaturated | 0.021 g |
| Polyunsaturated | 0.089 g |
|
Protein
|
2.8 g
|
| Tryptophan | 0.027 g |
| Threonine | 0.099 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.161 g |
| Leucine | 0.228 g |
| Lysine | 0.202 g |
| Methionine | 0.011 g |
| Cystine | 0.032 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.090 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.099 g |
| Valine | 0.273 g |
| Arginine | 0.134 g |
| Histidine | 0.017 g |
| Alanine | 0.058 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.228 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.448 g |
| Glycine | 0.072 g |
| Proline | 0.063 g |
| Serine | 0.125 g |
| Vitamins | Quantity
%DV†
|
| Vitamin A equiv.
beta-Carotene
lutein zeaxanthin
|
7%
54 μg
6%
630 μg740 μg
|
| Vitamin A | 1087 IU |
| Thiamine (B1) |
13%
0.15 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) |
7%
0.08 mg |
| Niacin (B3) |
4%
0.6 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) |
15%
0.75 mg |
| Vitamin B6 |
12%
0.16 mg |
| Folate (B9) |
11%
42 μg |
| Choline |
4%
17.4 mg |
| Vitamin C |
72%
60 mg |
| Vitamin E |
3%
0.39 mg |
| Vitamin K |
24%
25 μg |
| Minerals | Quantity
%DV†
|
| Calcium |
4%
43 mg |
| Copper |
4%
0.079 mg |
| Iron |
16%
2.08 mg |
| Magnesium |
7%
24 mg |
| Manganese |
12%
0.244 mg |
| Phosphorus |
8%
53 mg |
| Potassium |
7%
200 mg |
| Sodium |
0%
4 mg |
| Zinc |
3%
0.27 mg |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Water | 88.89 g |
| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults. | |
The snap pea, also called the sugar snap pea, is a type of pea that you can eat whole. Its pods are round and thick. This is different from snow pea pods, which are flat and thin. Both snap peas and snow peas are sometimes called "mangetout." This is a French word meaning "eat all."
Long ago, in the 1800s, there was a snap pea called "butter pea." But this old type of pea disappeared by the mid-1900s. The snap pea we know today was created by Dr. Calvin Lamborn. He crossed a special shelling pea with a snow pea. This happened in 1979, and the first new snap pea was named 'Sugar Snap'.
Snap peas are a type of pod fruit, just like other peas. An edible-podded pea is similar to a garden pea. However, its pod is less stringy and can be eaten when it's young. Snap pea pods do not have a tough inner layer. They also do not open up when they are ripe. When fully grown, the pods are about 4 to 8 centimeters (1.5 to 3 inches) long. Each pod usually holds three to eight peas. Snap pea plants like to climb. They need support, like sticks or a trellis, to grow best. Some types can climb up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) high. But most are grown to be about 1 to 1.3 meters (3 to 4 feet) tall. This makes them easier to pick.
Contents
Growing Snap Peas
Snap peas grow best in cool weather. You can plant them in spring as soon as the ground is ready. Plant the seeds about 1 to 1.5 inches apart. They should be 0.5 to 1 inch deep in a 3-inch wide row. Young snap pea plants can handle a little bit of frost. They also do better in warmer temperatures than some other pea types. Snap peas can grow very tall, sometimes over 2 meters (6.5 feet). But they are usually kept around 1.3 meters (4 feet) tall. They are climbing plants, so they need something to climb on. This could be a trellis or a fence. They also need about 4 to 6 hours of sunlight every day.
Different Types of Snap Peas
There are many different kinds of snap peas. They are listed below by how many days it takes for them to be ready to eat. This time is counted from when the seed sprouts to when the pods are ready. Add about 7 more days if you want to pick the peas inside the pods. 'Amish Snap' is the only true old-fashioned snap pea. Some types have "PMR" in their name. This means they are somewhat resistant to a plant disease called powdery mildew. "Afila" types have fewer leaves. Their stems grow together, which helps air move through the plant. This can stop mold from growing.
- Sugar Ann, 52 days, won an award in 1984
- Sugar Bon, 56 days
- Amish Snap, 60 days, grows very tall, an old type
- Cascadia, 60 days, PMR
- Sugar Daddy, 60 days
- Super Sugar Snap, 60 days, PMR, grows very tall
- Sugar Snap, 62 days, grows very tall, won an award in 1979
- Super Snappy, 65 days, PMR
- Sugar Lace II, 68 days, PMR, afila
Where Snap Peas Are Grown
Many snap peas that are sold to other countries come from places like Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Kenya, and China.
Cooking with Snap Peas
Snap peas are often eaten raw in salads. You can also eat them whole as a snack. They are also good stir-fried or steamed. Before you eat mature snap pea pods, you might need to "string" them. This means pulling off the thin string that runs along the top edge of the pod. If you cook snap peas for too long, they can become mushy.
