Sugar Snap Peas Companion Plants

Growing sugar snap peas is a joy for any gardener. To get the best harvest and a healthy garden, choosing the right sugar snap peas companion plants is key. This practice, called companion planting, is like creating a supportive neighborhood for your veggies. It helps with pest control, improves soil, and can even make your peas taste better. When you plant friends together, your garden becomes more resilient and productive with less work from you.

This guide will walk you through the best companions for your sugar snap peas. We’ll cover which plants to grow nearby and which to avoid. You’ll learn the simple reasons why these partnerships work so well. By the end, you’ll be ready to plan a garden where every plant helps another thrive.

Companion planting is an age-old method of placing plants near each other for mutual benefit. For sugar snap peas, the right companions can deter pests, fix nitrogen in the soil, and provide physical support. Let’s look at the top categories of plants that make excellent neighbors.

Best Vegetable Companions

These vegetables are superstar partners for your peas. They share space well and offer clear advantages.

Carrots and Radishes: These root vegetables are perfect because they grow underground. They don’t compete with the pea’s shallow roots for space. Radishes can also help break up soil, making it easier for pea roots to spread. Their quick harvest means they’re gone before the peas need the room.
Leafy Greens (Spinach, Lettuce): The peas provide light shade for these cool-weather greens, preventing them from bolting too early in the season. This shade is especially welcome as the sun gets stronger in late spring. In return, the greens form a living mulch, keeping the soil cool and moist for the peas.
Cucumbers and Squash: Planting these after your peas are established can be a great succession plan. The peas improve the soil with nitrogen, giving cucumbers a nutrient boost. The large squash leaves also help shade the soil, conserving water and supressing weeds around the pea base.
Potatoes: Some gardeners find this a beneficial pair. The peas may help repel the Colorado potato beetle, a common potato pest. Just ensure you give both plants plenty of space, as potatoes need room to develop their tubers.

Excellent Herb Companions

Herbs are powerful companions. Their strong scents confuse and repel many insect pests that might bother your peas.

Mint: The strong aroma of mint deters aphids, a major pest for peas. A word of caution: mint is very invasive. It’s best to plant it in a container and then sink the container next to your pea bed to control its spread.
Dill, Cilantro, and Parsley: These herbs attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps. These insects are natural predators of aphids and other harmful bugs. Having them around creates a natural defense system for your garden.
Rosemary and Sage: These stronger-scented, woody herbs can help mask the scent of your peas from pests. They are also perennials, so you can plant them once and they’ll help protect your garden for years to come.

Flowers for a Boost

Never underestimate the power of flowers in the vegetable garden. They are not just pretty; they are functional.

Nasturtiums: This is perhaps the best companion flower for peas. Nasturtiums act as a “trap crop,” attracting aphids away from your peas. They are also edible, with a peppery flavor great for salads. Their sprawling habit provides good ground cover too.
Marigolds: French marigolds release a substance from their roots that helps suppress nematodes, microscopic pests that can damage plant roots. Their bright flowers also attract pollinators which can benefit other plants in your garden.
Sweet Alyssum: This low-growing flower forms a beautiful carpet. It attracts hoverflies, whose larvae consume vast numbers of aphids. It’s a beautiful and effective way to control pests naturally.

The Nitrogen-Fixing Advantage

This is a special superpower of peas and other legumes. They work with bacteria in the soil to take nitrogen from the air and convert it into a form plants can use. This process “fixes” nitrogen in the soil. After your pea plants are done producing, you can chop them and leave the roots in the ground. This releases that stored nitrogen, acting as a natural fertilizer for the next crop you plant in that spot, like heavy-feeding tomatoes or corn.

Plants to Avoid Near Peas

Just as some plants are friends, others are foes. Avoid planting these near your sugar snap peas.

Onions, Garlic, Leeks, and Chives: All alliums (onion family plants) can stunt the growth of peas and beans. They secrete substances that interfere with the pea’s ability to grow properly. It’s best to keep them in a separate section of the garden.
Gladiolus: This popular flower is known to hinder the growth of peas if planted to close. It’s a specific antagonism that many gardeners have observed over time.
Other Heavy Feeders: Avoid planting peas right next to plants that are very hungry for nutrients, like corn or tomatoes, during the same season. They will compete for resources. Instead, use peas as a precursor, planting your heavy feeders in the same enriched soil after the peas are finished.

Planning Your Companion Planting Layout

Now, how do you put this all together? Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to planning your pea patch.

Step 1: Choose Your Location and Method

Peas need full sun and well-drained soil. Decide if you’ll grow them on a trellis, fence, or teepee. This vertical element is crucial for planning what goes around the base. A trellis creates a perfect shaded area on one side for leafy greens.

Step 2: Prepare the Soil

Work in some compost before planting. Peas don’t need a lot of extra fertilizer, especially nitrogen, as they make their own. Good compost provides balanced nutrition and improves soil structure. Make sure your soil pH is around 6.0 to 7.5 for optimal growth.

Step 3: Plant Your Peas and Primary Companions

Plant your pea seeds according to package directions. At the same time, you can sow seeds for companions like radishes, carrots, or spinach in the spaces between or in rows alongside the pea trellis. Remember to plant mint in a pot if your using it.

Step 4: Interplant with Herbs and Flowers

Transplant or sow your chosen herbs and flowers around the border of the pea bed. For example, plant a row of nasturtiums along the sunny front edge, and place pots of rosemary or dill at the corners. Sweet alyssum can be sprinkled in any small gaps.

Step 5: Maintain and Observe

Water consistently, especially when flowers and pods are forming. Keep an eye out for pests, but you’ll likely see fewer than in a monoculture garden. Watch how the plants interact—this is how you learn what works best in your specific garden.

Succession Planting with Peas

Because peas are a cool-season crop, they finish producing when summer heat arrives. This frees up space. Here’s a smart succession plan:

In early spring, plant your peas with their companions (radishes, spinach, lettuce).
As the radishes and lettuce are harvested, the peas are climbing.
When the pea harvest ends (usually early summer), cut the vines at the soil line, leaving the nitrogen-rich roots in the ground.
Plant a heat-loving crop like cucumbers, bush beans, or zucchini in the same spot. They will thrive on the nitrogen left behind by the peas.

Troubleshooting Common Pea Problems

Even with companions, issues can arise. Here’s how to handle them.

Aphids

If you see aphids, blast them off with a strong spray of water from your hose in the morning. Check your nasturtiums—they might be doing their job harboring the pests away from your peas. Encourage ladybugs by planting plenty of dill and cilantro.

Powdery Mildew

This white fungus can appear late in the season. Good air circulation helps prevent it. Ensure your trellis isn’t too crowded. Water at the base of plants, not on the leaves. If it appears, a spray of milk diluted with water can sometimes help.

Poor Pod Set

If you get flowers but few pods, it’s often a pollination issue or weather stress. While peas mostly self-pollinate, bees can help. Your companion flowers will attract pollinators to the area. Extreme heat can also cause flowers to drop; this is why peas are a cool-season crop.

FAQ Section

What grows well with sugar snap peas?

Carrots, radishes, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, potatoes, and herbs like mint, dill, and cilantro all grow well with sugar snap peas. Flowers like nasturtiums and marigolds are also excellent companions.

What should you not plant next to peas?

Avoid planting onions, garlic, leeks, and chives near peas. Also, keep gladiolus at a distance, as it can inhibit pea growth.

Can tomatoes and peas be planted together?

It’s not ideal to plant them together at the same time, as tomatoes are heavy feeders and may compete with peas. A better strategy is to plant tomatoes in the same spot after the peas have finished, using the nitrogen-rich soil the peas created.

Do peas add nitrogen to the soil?

Yes, peas and other legumes are nitrogen-fixing plants. They work with bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that enriches the soil, benefiting future plants.

What is a good companion plant for peas to deter bugs?

Strong-scented herbs like mint, rosemary, and sage help deter pests. Nasturtiums are fantastic for luring aphids away from the peas. Marigolds help with soil-borne pests like nematodes.

Final Thoughts on a Harmonious Garden

Companion planting with your sugar snap peas is a simple, natural way to create a healthier garden ecosystem. It reduces the need for chemical interventions and makes gardening more enjoyable and sustainable. By choosing the right neighbors, you’re not just growing peas; you’re cultivating a small, balanced world where plants support each other. Start with a few of these companion pairs, take notes on what you see, and adjust your plan next season. The results—a lush, productive, and vibrant garden—are well worth the thoughtful planning. Remember, the best garden is one that works with nature, not against it.