The snap peas companion plants have beneficial properties that make them suitable for growing together with your snap peas – they include lettuce, radishes, and spinach. The snap peas, also called sugar snap peas, are not parasites in this relationship.

Discovering the Secret Allies of Snap Peas

They also help the plants that are close to it with the process of fixing nitrogen. In this article, you will learn the best companion plants for snap pea plants so that you also have an idea of what not to plant with peas.

An Informative Guide To Choosing Snap Peas Companion Plants

The list of snap peas companion plants cannot be complete without mentioning mint, cucumbers, spinach, corn, cilantro, beans, lettuce, radish, carrots, eggplant, celery, and peppers. These are like friends to your snap pea plants. However, you need to select the ones that are more appealing to you so that you enjoy the companion planting experience.

To help you make decisions that are backed by authentic information, we have compiled this section that highlights the benefits, uses, characteristics, and care nuggets for various plants that can be grown alongside snap peas.

1. Lettuce

The Cool and Crispy Lettuce Plant

Benefits
  • Contains vitamin C that strengthens bones
  • Aids hydration because raw lettuce is 95 percent water
  • Contains vitamin A that enhances better vision
Uses
  • Used as a salad green
  • Some varieties are prepared and eaten as a vegetable
  • Used to improve sleep
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Have very short stems
  • Leaves form a loose rosette or a dense head
  • Shape, size, and leaf size vary between plants
Care
  • Soils should have good drainage properties to avoid soggy conditions
  • If the leaves wilt, water the plant and sprinkle some cold water on the leaves 
  • Mulching helps to keep the plant cool down

The scientific name for lettuce is Lactuca sativa and it has its origins in the Middle East and Asia Minor. This plant is a member of the Asteraceae family, which is also known as the sunflower family.

In some areas, this plant is referred to as garden lettuce. A bonus point to note about lettuce is that it contains folate, which is good for unborn babies as it prevents defects that are associated with the neural tube.

2. Radish

Vegetable for Crunchy Snacks

Benefits
  • Rich in minerals like potassium and calcium
  • Root is used to deal with digestive disorders, fever, colds, and loss of appetite
  • Have antioxidant properties
Uses
  • Eaten as a side dish
  • Used to reduce high cholesterol levels
  • Used to treat digestive and liver problems
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Are root vegetables with a crunchy flesh and varying skin colors like pink, red, purple, white, and yellow
  • Shape can be narrow, round, or long
  • Has a pungent flavor that is slightly spicy
Care
  • At least an inch of water every week
  • Ensure that the soil is well-draining so that your plant does not sit in water
  • Requires six hours of full sun every day

Radish was originally grown in China before its cultivation spread to other parts of the world. This plant falls under the Brassicaceae family of plants, which is the “cabbage” family.

Some varieties of radishes can survive all year round. Radishes are a great candidate for children’s gardens because they are fast-growing plants. 

3. Spinach

The Nutritious Green for Smoothies

Benefits
  • Lowers hypertension
  • Enhances good bone health
  • Promotes weight loss
Uses
  • Used as a vegetable for consumption
  • Used as an appetite stimulant and bodybuilder
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Leaves are relatively triangular and they may be flat
  • Produces flowers that are not showy
  • Produces fruits that are small and dry
Care
  • Prefers soils that are nutrient-rich and well-limed
  • Regularly water and add mulch to retain moisture but avoid waterlogged conditions
  • Needs at least six hours of sunlight every day

Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that flowers and it has its origins in eastern and central Asia. Spinach has amazing hydrating effects, considering that it is 91% water when raw. It is also a rich source of A, C, E, K, and B6.

4. Cucumbers

Cucumber Hydrating Summer Squash

Benefits
  • Keep you hydrated because they are predominantly water
  • Rich in fiber so it helps to avoid constipation
  • Contain vitamin K that helps with blood clotting and strengthening your bones
Uses
  • Can be eaten as parts of salads
  • Can be used to make summertime smoothies that have a soothing and cooling effect
  • Can be tossed in drinks 
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Fruit is available in different colors like green, orange, yellow, and white
  • Regular cucumbers have seeds, which is why they are called “seeded cucumbers”
  • Regular cucumbers are cylindrical and about 7 – 9 inches in length, on average
Care
  • An inch of water every week is good enough
  • Used water-soluble plant feed to enhance growth
  • Add straw mulch to keep beetles and slugs at bay

Cucumbers are creeping vine plants and they belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. There are basically three varieties of cucumbers that exist, which are, pickling, slicing, and seedless cucumbers.

One of the interesting facts about cucumbers is that they are considered to be vegetables in culinary language, but botanically, they are classified as fruits. Also, cucumbers are ranked fourth in the list of the most cultivated plants.

5. Cilantro

Herb for Mexican and Asian Cuisine

Benefits
  • Contains large amounts of vitamins A, E, and K, thereby making them good for eye, bone, and skin health
  • Might have anti-inflammatory properties
Uses
  • Whole plant is edible
  • Roots used to make teas and herbal medicines
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Grows up to about 1 foot in height
  • Flowers are pinkish-white and bright enough to attract pollinating insects
  • Has a flavor that is similar to that of parsley, though it is slightly more tangy
Care
  • Prefers the full sun
  • Soil should have free-draining properties and a pH of between 6.2 and 6.8
  • Add an inch of water on a weekly basis

Some of the other names that are used to refer to cilantro are coriander, Indian parsley, Chinese parsley, and sea parsley. The strong flavor of this plant is due to the essential oils that it contains.

Growing cilantro at home is quite easy and cost-effective. All you need is the right soil, cilantro seeds, and proper care procedures

6. Beans

Packed Legumes for Hearty Meals

Benefits
  • Rich source of protein, iron, and fiber
  • Have antioxidant properties
  • Also harbor vitamins A, C, and K
Uses
  • Can be used in different food recipes
  • Eaten to increase fertility
Distinguishing characteristics
  • An erect plant, whose height reaches up to between 2 and 5 feet
  • The crowded stems and branches have leaves that are attached to short petioles
  • Produces pods that harbor large seeds that are irregularly flattened
Care
  • Thrives best in soils that are loose, well-draining, well-aerated, and nutrient-rich, whose pH is around 6.5.
  • Require exposure to full sun for about eight hours in a day
  • Keep them warm because they are sensitive to frost 

Though beans are generally known to have stems that are erect, some may grow as climbing or spreading vines. Beans grow and mature faster so it doesn’t take much time before you harvest them.

Well, there are different types, which include the kidney, cannellini, pinto, black, Great Northern, and garbanzo beans.

7. Eggplant

The Versatile Nightshade for Grilling

Benefits
  • Has high fiber content so helps to deal with constipation
  • Lowers the risk of heart disease
  • Rich in various nutrients like vitamins C and K, as well as micronutrients such as manganese and potassium
Uses
  • Can be an ingredient in various food recipes
  • Helps to control blood sugar
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Bushy stem is erect and sometimes have spines
  • Leaves are large and slightly lobed
  • Produces violet flowers
Care
  • Soil should have consistent moisture but avoid making it soggy
  • Avoid watering directly on the foliage as this may trigger the development of fungal infections
  • Sandy loamy soils are best

The eggplant, which is also called aubergines, has its origins in India. They come in different colors like purple, white, and green. Sometimes, they may be purple, with white stripes.

Another interesting fact to note 一 eggplants are 95 percent water so making them part of your diet could contribute to good hydration.

8. Celery

The Crunchy Stalk for Snacks

Benefits
  • Reduces inflammation that is associated with the digestive system
  • Has beneficial compounds such as vitamin C and flavonoids, both of which contribute to the antioxidant properties of the plant 
Uses
  • Consumed as a vegetable
  • Used as an antiseptic
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Has furrowed stalks
  • Leaves are wedge-shaped
  • Has a peculiar smell and a characteristic coarse, rank taste
Care
  • Requires soils that are nutritious
  • Prefers full sun though it can also survive in slightly shady spaces

Celery is an edible plant but the eaten part depends on the plant’s location and cultivar. Based on these factors, the leaves, stalks, or cotyledons could be the ones that are cooked and consumed.

The seeds of the plant can be made into a powder that is then used as a spice.

Conclusion

Companion planting comes with a great experience when you know the plants to combine and this article did a great job of highlighting the available options when planting peas. Furnish your vegetable garden with this summary of points for your companion planting guide:

  • Examples of good snap peas companions are radish, cucumbers, celery, beans, lettuce, and cilantro.
  • The full sun and well-draining soils are preferable to most of the plants.
  • Most of the highlighted plants are nutrient-rich because they harbor vitamins and important micronutrients.
  • Some of the plants have potent medicinal properties.

You have probably seen that you have a variety of options for sugar snap pea companions. Now, do your careful analysis, weigh your options, and select the best companion plants as you plant sugar snap peas!

References

https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-radish

https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/7-healthy-facts-about-radishes

https://www.britannica.com/plant/spinach

https://fsi.colostate.edu/cucumbers/

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