Side by side
Pick two or three seeds to see how they grow, side by side: sprouting, spacing, sun, water, frost and pet safety in one table.
Comparing Snow Pea vs. Black Bean vs. Armenian Cucumber
The comparison
| Fact | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy | Moderate |
| Life cycle | Annual | Annual | Annual |
| Germination time | 7–10 days | 7–10 days | Not yet verified |
| Germination temperature | Not yet verified | 18–29 °C64–84 °F | Not yet verified |
| Sowing depth | 1.5–2.5 cm½–1 in | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Spacing between plants | 2.5–5 cm1–2 in | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Days to maturity | 50–70 days from sowing | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Frost tolerance | Not yet verified | Tender (no frost) | Tender (no frost) |
| Soil pH | pH 6.0–6.5 | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Links |
Up close
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
VegetablesPisum sativum var. saccharatum
Snow peas are cool-weather, climbing edible-podded peas grown for their flat pods, which are eaten whole. Sow them in early spring in full sun and provide a support for the vines to climb.
How to grow snow peaVegetablesPhaseolus vulgaris
Black beans are a dry-seed type of the common bean. Sow them in full sun after frost, and harvest once the pods have dried on the plant.
How to grow black beanVegetablesCucumis melo var. flexuosus
Armenian cucumber is a warm-season vine in the melon species, grown from seed for its edible fruit, which is eaten fresh or in salads.
How to grow armenian cucumberKeep comparing
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
Snow Pea vs. Acorn SquashSnow Pea against another vegetableBlack Bean vs. Acorn SquashBlack Bean against another vegetableArmenian Cucumber vs. Acorn SquashArmenian Cucumber against another vegetable
Snow Pea vs. ArtichokeSnow Pea against another vegetableBlack Bean vs. ArtichokeBlack Bean against another vegetableArmenian Cucumber vs. ArtichokeArmenian Cucumber against another vegetableThe table, row by row
Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
Comparing
Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.
