Garden Snow and Snap Peas

Whether you eat them fresh, steamed or in soups, peas are packed full of protein fiber and micronutrients.

This nutritious vegetable helps manage weight, strengthen the immune system, regulate blood sugar and fight inflammation. Add them to your diet and you just may notice an increase in your energy level.

Gardeners classify peas in three general categories, including garden or English peas, snow peas and sugar snap peas. English peas have a sweet flavor and bright green color. The plump seeds are removed, the pod discarded and only the seeds are eaten. Snow peas are flat with small seeds inside an edible pod. These are often used in stir fries. Sugar snap peas have a plump edible pod filled with seeds and can be eaten fresh or cooked.

Grow and harvest peas during the cooler months for the greatest yields and best flavor.

A bit more information:You can plant peas as soon as the soil temperatures reach 45 degrees. Growing peas helps extend your garden season. Check the back of the seed packet for the number of days from planting to harvest. Time your plantings so you’ll be harvesting during the cooler months of the growing season.