Pisum sativum (Sugar pea) 'Golden Sweet' – historic yellow sugar pea

Pisum sativum (Sugarpea) 'Golden Sweet' is a unique, historic variety from America and the only known snow pea with yellow pods. This distinctive color, combined with its robust, productive growth, makes it a real eye-catcher in the vegetable garden. 'Golden Sweet' is not only visually appealing but also culinary versatile: picked young, the sweet pods are delicious raw or lightly cooked, while the fully ripe pods can be used as marsh peas.

Thanks to its historical value and striking yellow pods, Golden Sweet is a sought-after variety for lovers of old varieties and special flavors.

Appearance and growth characteristics

Golden Sweet grows as a medium-tall, sturdy plant that requires support. The stems should be raised using stakes, netting, or trellis to keep the plants upright and ensure the pods develop properly. The flowers are violet, which creates a beautiful contrast with the striking yellow pods.

The pods are medium-sized, sweet, and aromatic, ideal for immediate consumption. To ensure consistent production, the pods should be harvested regularly. Regular picking ensures the plants continue to flower and produce new pods, allowing for a long harvest period.

Cultivation information and sowing

Golden Sweet can be sown directly in open ground from mid-March to early June. For optimal yield, follow these sowing instructions:

Sowing advice:

• Row spacing: 30–40 cm

• Distance in the row: 3–5 cm

• Sowing depth: 3–5 cm

Golden Sweet is excellent for mixed cropping with cabbage, radishes, and early potatoes. Avoid growing alongside onions, as these can negatively impact growth and yield. Like most peas, Golden Sweet requires little fertilizer. Too much fertilizer can lead to excessive leaf growth and fewer pods.

Harvest and culinary uses

Golden Sweet offers a versatile harvest:

• Young pods: edible with the skin on, sweet and crunchy, ideal for salads, stir-fries and light side dishes.

• Fully ripe pods: can be harvested as “marsh peas” for longer storage and incorporation into traditional dishes.

The combination of unique yellow pods and high productivity makes Golden Sweet not only practical but also a unique addition to any vegetable garden. The flavor is mildly sweet and retains well when steamed, stir-fried, or blanched.

Application tips:

• Fresh from the pod as a healthy snack

• Lightly stewed or steamed with various vegetables

• Stir-fries, pasta, risotto and salads

• Harvest dry or fully ripe for later use

Why choose Pisum sativum 'Golden Sweet'?

• Historic sugar snap pea variety from America

• Unique yellow pods, only known variety with this color

• Productive and aromatic, suitable for fresh consumption and traditional dishes

• Medium-tall plants require support

• Regular harvesting encourages long-term production

• Can be grown in mixtures with cabbage, radish and early potatoes

• Little fertilization required