Radish vs Sweet Pea

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

Radish

Raphanus sativus

Brassicaceae · vegetables

EdibleLow Maintenance

Sweet Pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Fabaceae · flowers

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Radish (Zones 2-11)

Sweet Pea (Zones 2-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 2–11

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Radish	Sweet Pea
Scientific Name	Raphanus sativus	Lathyrus odoratus
Family	Brassicaceae	Fabaceae
Category	vegetables	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Loose, Well-drained	Rich, Well-drained
Height	6"	6'
Spread	3"	1'
Bloom Season	Spring, Fall	Spring-Summer
Bloom Color	White, Pink	Mixed
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	Southeast Asia	Italy, Sicily
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Radish

Yes — EdibleNo — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Sweet Pea

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Radish

✓Direct sow — don't transplant.
✓Thin to 2 inches apart.
✓Harvest promptly to prevent pithy texture.
✓Great marker crop planted with slow-germinating carrots.

Sweet Pea

✓Soak seeds overnight before planting.
✓Provide trellis or netting.
✓Pick flowers frequently to prolong bloom.
✓Needs cool weather — plant early spring or fall in warm areas.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Radish if you want a low-maintenance plant. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 2–11.

Choose Sweet Pea if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 2–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 2–11. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

View RadishProfile →View Sweet PeaProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Radish and Sweet Pea grow in the same hardiness zone?

Radish grows in USDA zones 2-11, while Sweet Pea grows in zones 2-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 2 through 11.

Do Radish and Sweet Pea have the same sun and water needs?

Radish needs full sun and medium water, while Sweet Pea needs full sun and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, Radish or Sweet Pea?

Sweet Pea grows taller at 6' compared to Radish at 6". Sweet Pea spreads 1' while Radish spreads 3".

Are Radish and Sweet Pea deer resistant?

Sweet Pea is deer resistant, but Radish is not. If deer are a concern, Sweet Pea is the better choice, or protect Radish with fencing.

Which is easier to maintain, Radish or Sweet Pea?

Radish has low maintenance while Sweet Pea has medium maintenance. Radish may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Radish	Sweet Pea
Scientific Name	Raphanus sativus	Lathyrus odoratus
Family	Brassicaceae	Fabaceae
Category	vegetables	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Loose, Well-drained	Rich, Well-drained
Height	6"	6'
Spread	3"	1'
Bloom Season	Spring, Fall	Spring-Summer
Bloom Color	White, Pink	Mixed
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	Southeast Asia	Italy, Sicily
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Care Tips

Radish

✓Direct sow — don't transplant.
✓Thin to 2 inches apart.
✓Harvest promptly to prevent pithy texture.
✓Great marker crop planted with slow-germinating carrots.

Sweet Pea

✓Soak seeds overnight before planting.
✓Provide trellis or netting.
✓Pick flowers frequently to prolong bloom.
✓Needs cool weather — plant early spring or fall in warm areas.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Radish if you want a low-maintenance plant. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 2–11.

Choose Sweet Pea if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 2–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 2–11. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Radish and Sweet Pea grow in the same hardiness zone?

Radish grows in USDA zones 2-11, while Sweet Pea grows in zones 2-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 2 through 11.

Do Radish and Sweet Pea have the same sun and water needs?

Radish needs full sun and medium water, while Sweet Pea needs full sun and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, Radish or Sweet Pea?

Sweet Pea grows taller at 6' compared to Radish at 6". Sweet Pea spreads 1' while Radish spreads 3".

Are Radish and Sweet Pea deer resistant?

Sweet Pea is deer resistant, but Radish is not. If deer are a concern, Sweet Pea is the better choice, or protect Radish with fencing.

Which is easier to maintain, Radish or Sweet Pea?

Radish has low maintenance while Sweet Pea has medium maintenance. Radish may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.