Pisum sativum (Sugar pea) 'Hendriks' BIO – famous, delicate peas for fresh consumption

Pisum sativum (Sugar pea) 'Hendriks' BIO, also known by the German name Early Heinrich, is a historic and beloved sugar pea that excels in flavor, productivity, and reliability. This variety is especially known for its delicate, sweet pods, which can be eaten whole with the skin when picked young. As with all snow peas, harvesting young, tender pods yields the best flavor, while fully ripe pods can be used as so-called "marsh peas," making cultivation versatile and sustainable.

Hendriks is a classic in organic vegetable gardens and edible ornamental gardens, loved by home gardeners and professional growers alike for its reliable yield and aromatic quality.

Appearance and growth characteristics

Hendriks grows vigorously to over 80 cm tall and requires support to keep the plants upright. Sturdy mesh, stakes, or trellis are ideal for supporting the plants and facilitating harvesting.

The long, slender pods are bright green, juicy, and aromatic. The compact foliage keeps the harvest manageable and allows for continuous picking. Regular harvesting encourages continued flowering and pod formation, keeping the yield high and consistent throughout the season.

The purple flowers, typical of many snow peas, provide an attractive accent in the vegetable garden while the plants remain productive.

Cultivation information and sowing

Hendriks is easy to grow, both in traditional vegetable gardens and in raised beds or large pots. The plants require a sunny location and respond well to light, well-drained soil. Additional fertilizer is usually unnecessary: ​​peas fix nitrogen themselves through their root nodules, making them low-requirement in organic farming.

Sowing advice:

• Sowing period: early April to mid-June

• Row spacing: 30–40 cm

• Distance in the row: 4–5 cm

• Sowing depth: 3–5 cm

Hendriks combines well with other early vegetables such as cabbage, radishes and early potatoes, but is not recommended for growing alongside onions, as this can affect yield.

Harvest and culinary uses

Hendriks' harvest begins a few weeks after sowing, depending on the sowing time and weather conditions. For optimal flavor, the young pods are continuously picked before the peas are fully formed. This not only produces the most delicate and sweet pods but also stimulates new flowering and pod formation.

Culinary applications of Hendriks:

• Fresh from the pod as a snack or in salads

• Lightly steamed or blanched with hot dishes

• Stir-fries, pasta, risotto or vegetable mixes

• Harvest fully ripe as “marsh peas” for longer storage

Hendriks thus offers a combination of fresh consumption and long-lasting harvest, making it a versatile variety for any vegetable garden.

Why choose Pisum sativum 'Hendriks' Organic?

• Historic sugar snap pea variety, also known as Early Heinrich

• Delicate, aromatic pods for young harvest

• High-yielding plants up to over 80 cm

• Requires support, but produces continuous pods for long harvest period

• Minimal maintenance, little fertilization required

• Well suited for mixed cultivation with cabbage, radish and early potatoes

• Fully ripe pods can be used as “marsh peas”