When to Plant Peas: Spring Sowing Dates by Frost (and Fall Peas)

Garden (English) peas, snap peas and snow peas all follow the same calendar. They like cool, moist weather, handle light frost when young and give up once summer heat arrives. The whole game is getting them in early enough to flower and pod before it gets hot.

Spring sowing dates by last frost

Our planting calendar gives peas a direct-sow window from about 4 weeks to 2 weeks before your average last spring frost. UMN Extension suggests a second and third planting a week apart for a longer harvest. The last column is Texas A&M's wider range, 2 to 8 weeks before the frost-free date; the early end only works if the soil is thawed and dry enough.

Regional examples: University of Maryland Extension lists peas sown from mid-March through April in central Maryland (last frost around April 15), harvested from May to mid-July. In Minnesota, UMN simply says to sow as soon as the ground has thawed and the soil is workable, and that preparing the bed the previous fall can help you start early.

Soil temperature and wet springs

Illinois Extension says peas can be planted when the soil is at least 45°F and dry enough to till without sticking to tools; UMD says at least 40°F. UMD notes germination is slow below 40°F and faster as soil warms toward 75°F. If your spring soil is cold and wet, UMD suggests pre-germinating the seeds: lay them between folds of a damp paper towel in a perforated plastic bag somewhere warm, then plant them gently once roots show.

Why early matters: heat stops peas

UMN says peas stop growing and stop producing flowers and pods once temperatures climb above 85°F, as often happens in June in Minnesota, and that peas grown in hot weather can be poor in quality. Illinois adds that early plantings normally yield more than later ones. So when in doubt, plant on the early side of your window and cover young plants with a sheet or row cover if a hard late frost is forecast after they start to flower.

Fall peas

Fall peas are possible, but harder than spring ones. Illinois suggests sowing heat-tolerant varieties in mid to late summer so they mature in cool fall weather, and to allow more days before your first killing frost than the listed days to maturity, because short, cool fall days slow growth. UMD is blunt about its own region: fall-planted peas often perform poorly in Maryland, because the seed doesn't germinate well in warm soil, plants grow poorly in heat and frost often arrives before the pods mature. The table adds about two weeks of padding to the packet days; that padding is our rule of thumb for Illinois' advice, not an extension figure.

Texas and Florida dates

Texas A&M AgriLife's Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Guide puts English peas at 2 to 8 weeks before the frost-free date in spring and lists 55 to 90 days to harvest. In much of Texas, that means late winter. In Florida, University of Florida IFAS lists English peas from January through March in North Florida and from November through February in Central and South Florida, so peas are a winter crop there.

Where peas go in the garden

Peas share a cool, early bed well with lettuce, radishes, spinach and carrots, and the tall ones make good use of a trellis. See what to plant with peas for listed companions and the few to avoid, vertical vegetable gardening for supports, and when to plant lettuce for a crop sown at nearly the same time.

Frequently asked questions

When should I plant peas in spring?

As soon as the soil can be worked, usually about 4 to 2 weeks before your average last frost. Texas A&M allows 2 to 8 weeks before the frost-free date.

Can peas handle frost?

Young pea plants survive light frost and grow above 40°F (UMN). A frost after they flower can damage the crop, so cover them if a late frost is forecast.

What soil temperature do peas need?

At least 40°F (UMD) to 45°F (Illinois), with soil dry enough not to stick to tools. Germination is slow in cold soil and speeds up as it warms toward 75°F.

Is it too late to plant peas in May?

Often, in warm areas. UMN says peas stop flowering above 85°F, and Illinois says early plantings yield more. In cool northern gardens, a May sowing can still work if it will finish before summer heat.

Can I plant peas in the fall?

Yes, with a heat-tolerant variety sown in mid to late summer, allowing more days than the packet lists (Illinois). UMD notes fall peas often do poorly in Maryland.

How deep do you plant peas?

About 1 inch deep (UMN); Illinois says 1 to 1½ inches deep and 1 inch apart.