Sugar pea Weggiser [Pisum sativum saccharatum]

The annual sugar pea 'Weggieser' is an early and almost forgotten old variety with lots of small, crisp and fresh pods. Strong taste, unripe pods are particularly tender. High yield with purple flowers. Ideal for direct sowing, pot cultivation possible, sowing spring-autumn, good for mixed culture, harvesting of fresh or dried peas.

 Description 
The sugar pea 'Weggieser' is an annual, historic and old sugar pea variety from 1942 in Weggis, in the Lake of the 4 Cantons region in Switzerland. This almost forgotten, proven purple flowering variety is vigorous and forms many small, crisp and fresh pods. Unripe pods are particularly tender and do not form a parchment layer, making them suitable for raw consumption. The taste of the flat pods is strong and resembles the well-known snow peas from childhood memories. Sugar peas can usually be sown 6 weeks before the marrow peas. A scaffold for climbing is required.

 General information 
Plant family: Fabaceae
Life cycle: Annual
Days to harvest: 90 days
Plant height approx.: 150 cm
Root type: Heart rooter
Nutrient requirements: Low
Water requirements: Medium
Winter hardiness: Up to 0°C
Location: Sunny
Soil: Permeable, deep, loamy, humic, calcareous

pH value: 6 to 8

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Dark germinator
Sowing depth: 3-5 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 8-15 °C
Germination time: 10-20 days
Plant and row spacing: 5x40 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 3-4 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: Dill, Fennel, Cucumber, Cabbage, Corn, Carrot, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Radish, Rhubarb, Spinach, Zucchini, Lamb's lettuce, Tarragon, Strawberry, Borage
Unfavorable mixed culture: Bean, Pea, Potato, Leek, Garlic, Tomato, Onion

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Direct sowing is recommended from January to April and in autumn from September to November. The ideal location for the plants is open and sunny to partially shaded.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Direct sowing from March to June is recommended. The plants are ideally planted in an open, sunny location.

 General recommendations 
Dense direct sowing in rows is recommended. The optimal time for sowing is on average 3°C, but sowing can also take place at warmer temperatures. When the plants are 10 cm high, it is recommended to cover the plants with soil so that they thrive optimally. A framework for the pea shoots to climb is recommended, which improves the yield and quality.
Sugar pea 'Weggieser' ideally prefers a soil that is moist, permeable, deep, low in nutrients, calcareous and contains humus and clay. It does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
Since the soil is supplied with nitrogen via the roots, these should be cut off after harvest and left in the soil. Due to the nitrogen excretion on the roots of the peas, planting in mixed culture promotes surrounding plants. With sugar peas, the young pods are harvested before the seeds have ripened. This variety requires a framework to guide the pea shoots upwards. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water storage capacity, additional incorporation of biochar and primary rock flour is recommended.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds.

 Plant care 
Occasional weeding helps the young plants develop. Loosened, nutrient-rich and moist soil is sufficient. No fertilization necessary.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Pisum sativum saccharatum
English names: Snap pea, Snow pea, Sugar pea, Kefe, Sweet Pea
German names: Erbse, Zuckerbse, Zuckerschote, Kefe, Kaiserschote, Kiefelerbse, Knackerbse
Portuguese names: Ervilha, Ervilha de neve
Spanish names: Guisante, Guisante de nieve
French names: Pois, Pois mange-tout

 Origin 
Country: Portugal