Peas are one of the first crops you can plant in spring. Sow them outdoors as soon as the soil thaws and dries enough to work, about four to six weeks before your last frost. Plant seeds 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep and 2 inches (5 cm) apart, next to a trellis or netting. Peas sprout in soil as cool as 40°F (4°C), but they come up faster once it warms. Most varieties are ready to pick 50 to 70 days after sowing, before summer heat shuts them down.
With peas, timing decides the harvest. Plant late and the heat arrives before the pods fill. Plant early and they handle the cold fine.
Snap, snow, or shelling peas
All three are the same species, Pisum sativum. The difference is in the pod.
- Shelling peas, also called garden or English peas, have tough pods. You pop them open and eat the round peas inside. Try ‘Green Arrow’, ‘Lincoln’, or ‘Little Marvel’.
- Snap peas have thick, juicy pods with full-sized peas inside. You eat the whole thing. ‘Sugar Snap’ climbs 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m). ‘Sugar Ann’ stays about 2 feet (60 cm) tall.
- Snow peas have flat pods that you pick before the peas swell. They are the peas in stir-fries. ‘Oregon Sugar Pod II’ is a reliable choice.
If you grow only one kind, grow snap peas. You eat the whole pod, so there is no shelling, and you get more food from the same row.
Sweet peas are a different plant. They are a flower, Lathyrus odoratus, and their seeds and pods are toxic. Grow them for the scent, but keep them away from the vegetable bed so no one mixes them up. My post on winter sowing sweet peas covers the flowers.
When to plant peas
Plant peas in early spring, four to six weeks before your last frost. Wait until the soil is no longer soggy. If a handful of soil sticks together in a wet ball, give it a few more days. If it crumbles, you are ready.
Young pea plants handle light frost and even a dusting of snow. My post on what temperature to cover plants for frost explains when to worry.
Peas slow down and stop producing once days get hot, above about 80°F (27°C). In warm regions, plant in late winter, or in fall for a winter crop.
For a fall crop in cooler areas, sow again about 8 to 10 weeks before your first fall frost. The soil is warm then, so water often until the seeds sprout.
You can also start peas outdoors in winter in milk jugs. My guide on winter sowing peas shows how.
Pea planting dates for zones 3 to 6
I garden in the North Okanagan of British Columbia, around zone 5b to 6a. In cold climates like mine, the spring window for peas is short.
This table counts back from average frost dates for each zone. Spring dates are 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost. Fall dates are 8 to 10 weeks before the first frost. The zone frost dates are rough averages from Garden Design. Your own frost dates can differ by weeks, so look up your local dates and check that the soil is workable before you sow.
| Zone | Average last frost | Sow in spring | Average first frost | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | May 1 to 16 | Late March to mid-April, once the soil thaws | September 8 to 15 | About July 1 to 20 |
| 4 | April 24 to May 12 | Mid-March to mid-April, once the soil thaws | September 21 to October 7 | Mid-July to mid-August |
| 5 | April 7 to 30 | Late February to early April | October 13 to 21 | Early to late August |
| 6 | April 1 to 21 | Mid-February to late March | October 17 to 31 | Early August to early September |
In zones 3 and 4, the ground is often still frozen at the early end of these windows. Plant as soon as you can work the soil. The University of Minnesota Extension notes that a cool spring there often turns hot fast, which keeps the pea season short. It suggests getting the bed ready the fall before, so you can plant as soon as the ground thaws.
Fall peas in zones 3 and 4 go in during July heat. Keep the seedbed moist until the seeds come up.
How heat affects peas (and when they quit)
Peas grow best when air temperatures sit between 55 and 65°F (13 and 18°C), according to the University of Minnesota Extension and South Dakota State University Extension. Young plants keep growing at any temperature above 40°F (4°C).
Above 80°F (27°C), peas do poorly and yields drop, according to Utah State University Extension and South Dakota State. Heat slows root growth and pushes the plant to set seed before it is big enough to carry a good crop. Most varieties need about 60 days of growth, so a late planting runs into the heat before the pods fill.
When the plants stop flowering and turn yellow, they are done for the season. Penn State Extension says a yellow pea plant is ready to come out.
To stretch the season a little, plant early, mulch to keep the roots cool, and pick every day or two so pods do not age on the vine.
Succession planting peas
A single sowing ripens over a short stretch. Once peas reach full size, they are past their best as fresh peas within one to three days (University of Minnesota Extension). Three ways to spread out the harvest:
- Sow in weekly rounds. The University of Minnesota Extension suggests a second planting one week after the first, and another a week after that.
- Sow every two to four weeks. Penn State Extension gives this range for a steady supply.
- Mix fast and slow varieties. Most peas take 50 to 70 days to harvest (Penn State Extension). Sow a fast variety and a slower one on the same day, and the picking spreads out.
In cold climates, stop spring sowing once a later round would ripen in hot weather. Count the days to harvest on the seed packet forward from your sowing date. If that lands in your usual hot spell, skip that round and sow for fall instead.
How to plant peas
- Set up your trellis or netting first.
- Soak the seeds in water for a few hours before planting. This step is optional, but it speeds up sprouting. Do not soak them longer than a day.
- If you have not grown peas or beans in this spot before, dust the damp seeds with a pea and bean inoculant. It adds the soil bacteria that help peas make their own nitrogen.
- Sow seeds 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep and 2 inches (5 cm) apart along both sides of the trellis.
- Water well.
Seeds sprout in 6 to 17 days, and sometimes take longer in cold, early spring weather.
Soil temperature for pea germination
Pea seeds sprout in soil from 40 to 85°F (4 to 29°C). They come up fastest near 75°F (24°C). Cold, wet soil also raises the risk of damping off, a fungus that kills seedlings (Penn State Extension).
This table comes from Oregon State University Extension. It shows how many days peas took to come up at each soil temperature.
| Soil temperature | Days to emerge |
|---|---|
| 41°F (5°C) | 36 |
| 50°F (10°C) | 13 |
| 59°F (15°C) | 9 |
| 68°F (20°C) | 7 |
| 77°F (25°C) | 6 |
| 86°F (30°C) | 6 |
Going from 41°F to 50°F cuts the wait by more than three weeks. The University of Wisconsin Extension lists 50°F (10°C) as the minimum soil temperature for peas, with 40 to 85°F as the range where they can still sprout.
To check your soil, push a soil thermometer 2 inches (5 cm) deep. Read it between 10 a.m. and noon on three days in a row, as UW Extension suggests. My soil temperature chart for planting vegetables lists other crops.
Give peas something to climb
Peas climb with thin, curly tendrils. Tendrils can only wrap around thin things, like string, netting, or wire. They cannot grip a thick wooden post.
Tall varieties need support 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m) tall. Dwarf types grow 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 cm) tall, but they still do better with a short fence to lean on. Without support, the vines tangle on the ground, rot in wet weather, and are hard to pick.
Good options include:
- Garden netting stretched between two posts.
- Chicken wire or a wire panel.
- Twiggy branches pushed into the soil. In England, gardeners call this pea brush.
- A string trellis.
My post on wire trellises shows a few simple builds.
Sun, soil, and water
Peas grow best in full sun. In warmer areas, a little afternoon shade helps them last longer into summer.
Give them well-drained soil with compost and a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Peas need little fertilizer. Like beans, they partner with soil bacteria that turn nitrogen from the air into food. Too much nitrogen gives you vines and few pods.
Water when the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil is dry. Steady water matters most once the plants flower and the pods start to fill. Add a layer of straw or shredded leaves once the plants are a few inches tall. Mulch keeps the roots cool, and cool roots stretch the harvest a little longer as the weather warms.
Common pea problems
Birds, rabbits, and slugs all like young pea shoots. Cover the row with floating row cover or netting until the plants are about 6 inches (15 cm) tall.
Seeds that never come up have often rotted in cold, wet soil. Wait for the soil to dry out a bit and sow again.
Powdery mildew coats the leaves with white powder late in the season, once days turn warm. If it shows up every year, grow resistant varieties like ‘Cascadia’ or ‘Super Sugar Snap’.
Aphids sometimes cluster on tips. My post on aphids on plants covers what to do.
When to pick peas
Pea pods go from perfect to starchy in a few days, so check the plants often once the first pods appear.
- Pick snap peas when the pods are plump and round and the peas inside have filled out, but the pod still snaps crisp.
- Pick snow peas when the pods are flat and the peas inside are still tiny.
- Pick shelling peas when the pods are round, full, and bright green. Dull, waxy pods are past their best.
Hold the vine with one hand and pull the pod with the other, or snip it with scissors. Pea vines are brittle and tear when you yank them.
Pick every day or two. Pods left on the vine to mature signal the plant to slow down.
Peas taste sweetest right after picking. The sugar in them starts to turn to starch within hours. Eat them that day, or chill them right away.
How to store and freeze peas
Cool peas as soon as you pick them. The University of Minnesota Extension suggests shelling right away, dunking the peas in cold water until chilled, then drying and refrigerating them. Cooled this way, shelled peas hold their quality for more than a week in the fridge. Snow and snap peas need quick cooling too.
How to freeze peas
Blanching before freezing slows the enzymes that cause loss of flavor, color, and texture. These steps and times come from the National Center for Home Food Preservation pages on freezing green peas and freezing edible pea pods.
- Pick shelling peas when the pods are full of young, tender peas that have not turned starchy. Pick snow peas while the pods are flat and tender.
- Wash them. Shell the shelling peas. For snow peas, remove the stems, blossom ends, and strings, and leave the pods whole.
- Blanch in boiling water. Shelled peas take 1½ minutes. Small edible pods take 1½ minutes, and large ones take 2 minutes.
- Cool them in cold water, then drain.
- Pack into freezer bags or containers with ½ inch (1 cm) of headspace. Seal and freeze.
Snap peas with plump peas inside are a special case. The center says pods with developing peas inside follow the directions for green beans. Pods with full-sized peas get shelled and frozen as green peas.
Eat the shoots too
The tender tips of pea vines are good to eat raw or tossed into a stir-fry. Pinch off the top few inches of a few vines. You can also grow pea shoots indoors on a windowsill in winter. My guide to growing microgreens shows how.
Pea growing questions
How long do peas take to grow?
Most peas are ready 50 to 70 days after sowing, according to Penn State Extension. Check the seed packet for your variety.
What is the lowest soil temperature for planting peas?
Peas can sprout in soil as cool as 40°F (4°C), but they are slow. In Oregon State University tests, they took 36 days to come up at 41°F (5°C) and 13 days at 50°F (10°C).
Should I soak pea seeds before planting?
It is optional. Unsoaked seeds sprout in 6 to 17 days. Soaking them overnight shortens that. Do not soak them longer than 24 hours (Penn State Extension).
How far apart do you plant peas?
Sow seeds 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep and about 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Utah State University Extension suggests 1 to 2 inches apart, and Penn State Extension suggests 1½ to 3 inches, so 2 inches fits both. Space rows 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm) apart, where their row ranges overlap. For a wide row, scatter seeds about 2 inches (5 cm) apart in all directions (University of Minnesota Extension).
How many pea plants fit in a square foot?
Up to eight plants fit in each 12 by 12 inch (30 by 30 cm) square, according to Penn State Extension.
Can pea plants survive frost?
Young plants survive light frost. Once they flower and set pods, frost can damage the crop. Cover them with sheets or row cover if a late frost is in the forecast (University of Minnesota Extension).
Why did my peas stop producing?
Check two things. Above 80°F (27°C), peas do poorly and yields drop (Utah State and South Dakota State extension services). Pods left to mature on the vine also slow the plant down, so pick every day or two.
Do peas need fertilizer?
Peas need little fertilizer, since they partner with soil bacteria that supply nitrogen. Penn State Extension suggests a side dressing of compost when the plants start to flower.
After the harvest
When the vines stop producing, cut them off at the soil line. Leave the roots in the ground, since they hold some of the nitrogen the bacteria made. Compost the vines.
That bed is now free for a summer crop. Follow peas with a crop that goes in later, like squash or cucumbers. For more early crops to plant with peas, see my lists of early spring vegetables and cool-season vegetables.
Seed companies I like
These are the seed companies I order from for my own garden.
- Botanical Interests: beautiful packets with growing notes printed inside
- High Mowing Organic Seeds: certified organic, grown in Vermont
- True Leaf Market: big selection of hybrids, microgreens, and cover crops
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