Sugar Ann

Why it suits Ireland

Height is the whole argument. Most sugarsnaps are tall climbers that need a serious frame and a sheltered site, neither of which is a given in an Irish back garden. Sugar Ann tops out around 60 to 75cm, so a low panel of netting or a short wigwam holds it, and it does not act as a windbreak the way a metre and a half of pea foliage does.

Being early also means it crops and finishes before powdery mildew is at its worst in late August. Peas that finish in July mostly escape it, and the ones that are still standing in September mostly do not.

The pods do need to fill properly to be worth eating, which is where an Irish June matters. A cool damp June is fine, but a dry one can leave the pods thin, so watering during pod fill is not optional here even in a country with our rainfall.

Growing notes

Sow from late March to mid-June, 5cm deep and 5cm apart, in a flat drill with 60cm between rows. Like all wrinkled types the seed rots readily in cold wet soil, so wait for the ground to warm or start it under cover in guttering.

Put the support in at sowing. Even at 70cm it will lie flat after heavy rain, and sugarsnap pods spoil quickly once they are on soil.

Water at flowering and heavily while the pods are swelling. This is the stage that decides whether you get a crisp full pod or a flat disappointing one.

Pick when the pods are round, plump and still bright, roughly ten to twelve weeks from sowing. Squeeze one: it should feel firm and snap cleanly. Left too long the pod wall toughens and the string becomes obvious, and like every pea the plant slows down once mature seed is left on it.

Eat them raw within a few hours of picking if you can. A sugarsnap straight off the plant is the best argument for growing peas at all, and it is not the same thing three days later out of the fridge.