Alaska Earliest of All Early Pea: Speed and Flavor Combined

The Alaska Earliest of All Early pea is a premium choice for gardeners who can't wait to harvest. This exceptionally early variety lives up to its name, producing tender, sweet peas in record time—often ready to pick just 50 to 60 days after planting. If you're eager to enjoy fresh homegrown peas at the start of the season, Alaska Earliest of All is your answer.

What Makes Alaska Earliest of All Special?

This variety is prized for its speed without sacrificing quality. The compact plants, typically 18 to 24 inches tall, produce abundant pods filled with sweet, tender peas. Alaska Earliest of All is also remarkably cold-hardy, making it ideal for early spring planting when frost is still a possibility. The plants are sturdy and reliable, thriving even in less-than-ideal conditions.

Because this variety matures so quickly, it's perfect for succession planting. You can sow seeds every two weeks throughout spring to enjoy a continuous harvest of fresh peas rather than one large crop all at once.

Growing Alaska Earliest of All Peas

Plant seeds directly in the garden as soon as soil is workable in early spring. These peas prefer full sun and well-draining soil but are forgiving of cooler temperatures. Space seeds about 2 inches apart and provide a light trellis or support structure for the compact vines to climb.

Water consistently and keep the soil evenly moist. Because these plants mature quickly, they require less maintenance than longer-season varieties, making them an excellent choice for busy gardeners.

Harvest Your Early Bounty

Begin harvesting when pods are full and bright green, typically 50 to 60 days after planting. Pick regularly to encourage continued production. Alaska Earliest of All peas are delicious fresh, steamed, or added to spring dishes. Their early arrival means you'll be enjoying homegrown peas while most gardens are still getting started.

In Summary

The Alaska Early Pea (Pisum sativum), originally named Earliest of All, has a lot of great qualities. As you can guess, it’s one of the earliest to produce in only 55 days. It’s a semi-dwarf frost-tolerant bush variety that grows to only 2'-3' tall and doesn’t require staking. And it produces lots of 2"-3" pods with 5-8 small, plump, smooth, peas inside. Nice flavor that isn’t too sweet. It was renamed in the late 1800s after the steamship Alaska. Can be grown in Alaska, the lower 48, and Hawaii.

• Not too sweet
• Full sun
• High yields
• Early maturity—55 days
• Good for containers

Good companion plants: Bean, Carrot, Cucumber, Parsley, Pepper, Sage, Spinach, Squash, Strawberry, Thyme

SEED PLANTING TIPS

• Botanical name: Pisum sativum
• Hardiness zones: 2-11
• Pea type: English/shelling - remove peas from pod before eating
• Growth habit: Bush - no support
• Depth to plant seeds: 1" deep
• Spacing between plants: 2"-3" apart
• Spacing between rows: 18"-24" apart
• Days to germinate (sprout): 7-21 days
• Germination soil temps: 40F-85F
• Soil needs: Clay, sandy, loamy, chalky, rich, moist, well-drained
• Soil pH: 5.5-7.0
• Sun needs: Full sun
• Frost tolerant: Yes
• # of plants per sq. ft.: Appx. 8 plants per sq. ft.
• Days to maturity: 55-60 days