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As an avid gardener and pea lover, I’m always looking for ways to maximize my pea harvest. Peas are one of the most rewarding crops to grow, with their sweet flavor and satisfying crunch But their growing season is frustratingly short. So I often find myself wondering how late can I plant peas and still get a good harvest?
The traditional wisdom states you should plant peas as early in spring as possible. Old adages recommend planting on St. Patrick’s Day or even earlier. But with some planning and clever techniques it’s possible to plant peas much later and still reap a bountiful harvest.
In this article, I’ll share everything I’ve learned over the years about extending the pea planting season. I’ll cover:
- How planting dates vary by region
- The ideal soil temperature for planting
- Tips for warming up spring soil
- Fast-maturing pea varieties to try
- Strategies for fall/winter pea planting
I hope these tips will help you enjoy garden-fresh peas for as long as possible whether you’re planting in spring. summer fall or even winter!
Regional Planting Dates Vary
The first thing to understand is that planting dates for peas depend heavily on your climate zone and last spring frost date.
In the Deep South and Southwest, gardeners can often plant peas in late winter. But in the North and Midwest, the ground is still frozen solid then. Up north, planting peas a month or two before the last frost is ideal.
So forget rigid planting dates. The key is tracking soil temperature and being aware of your local conditions. Peas can handle some cold, but prolonged freezing will kill them.
Here are some general guidelines for planting peas by region:
- North (zones 3-5): April/May
- Midwest (zones 5-6): March/April
- South (zones 7+): February/March
- West Coast (zones 8-10): February-April
But even in colder climates, there are things you can do to push the planting envelope…
Ideal Soil Temperature for Planting Peas
Peas prefer relatively cool soil, around 45-75°F. But they can tolerate cold better than heat. In fact, newly sprouted pea seedlings can handle frost and even light freezes.
So you can plant peas earlier in spring than warmth-loving crops like tomatoes or squash. Focus more on soil temperature than air temperature or last frost dates.
Test your soil temp 4 inches down before planting. Don’t be afraid to plant peas if soil is at least 40°F, even if cooler weather is forecasted. Just avoid sowing seeds right before an Arctic cold snap.
Warming Up Spring Soil for Early Planting
When spring soil is too cold for peas, there are some tricks to warm it up:
- Use plastic mulch or low tunnels to trap heat
- Mix in compost which generates heat as it breaks down
- Try a south-facing location warmed by sunlight
- Cover planted rows with fabric row cover
With these warming techniques, I’ve planted peas as much as a month before my last frost date. The started peas then mature faster when soil does warm up.
Fast-Maturing Pea Varieties Extend Season
Standard pea varieties need 60-70 days of cool weather to mature. But fast-maturing varieties can produce harvestable peas in just 50-55 days.
When planting late, choose one of these quick peas to squeeze in a harvest before summer heat hits:
- Little Marvel – 49 days
- Early Perfection – 55 days
- Progress #9 – 57 days
- Springer – 58 days
You’ll get smaller yields from fast peas. But they let you harvest something even with a late planting.
Planting Peas in Late Summer/Fall
In mild climates (zones 7-10), you can plant a second pea crop in late summer for fall/winter harvest. Sow seeds 10-12 weeks before your first expected fall frost.
Key tips for late season planting:
- Prioritize fast-maturing and disease resistant varieties
- Use shade cloth to protect from hot sun
- Keep soil moisture consistent with mulch and irrigation
- Add trellises for temperature moderation and air circulation
A bit of luck with the weather, and you can be picking fresh peas around the winter holidays!
Overwintering Peas
In zones 7-9, you can also try overwintering certain pea varieties planted in fall. They’ll go dormant through winter, then be ready to grow and yield peas in early spring.
These heirloom varieties are known for their ability to overwinter:
- Prussian Blue Peas
- Carouby de Maussane Pea
- Cascadia Snap Pea
But be aware you may lose some plants to cold exposure. Give them protective coverings to improve their winter survival rate.
Getting a Head Start with Pea Shoots
If you simply can’t wait for full grown pods, harvest some pea shoots! Pea shoots are the young tender tips of pea vines, usually picked when 4-6 inches tall.
Plant a dedicated patch of peas just for shoots 2-4 weeks before your last frost. Then start clipping once vines are established. Shoots add a sweet pea flavor to salads, pastas, and stir fries.
Final Tips for Maximizing Your Pea Harvest
Follow these extra tips to enjoy peas from your garden as long as possible:
- Stagger plantings every 2-3 weeks for a continuous harvest
- Provide trellises and shade in summer to prolong productivity
- Pick pods early and often to encourage more production
- Sow fast-growing companion crops like radishes around peas
- Prioritize disease resistant varieties to withstand pressure from pathogens
Peas on St. Patrick’s Day
It’s an old American tradition to plant peas on St. Today is St. Patrick’s Day! Janice, our former editor, shows us how to plant peas when it snows in early spring!
St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) is the traditional day for planting peas, one of the easiest plants to grow. It’s said to bring luck come harvest time. And it makes sense: the ground is usually no longer frozen and can be worked, and these vegetables like to start growing when it’s still cold outside in the spring.
- Do not water peas more than an inch a week unless the plants are wilting. We don’t want to encourage pea rot. But also do not let the plants dry out. If this happens, no pods will be produced.
- Gently remove intrusive weeds by hand. If you have to, hoe or cultivate the peas, but be careful not to damage their shallow, fragile roots.
- Pea leaves turn yellow for several reasons. Often, this is due to the stress of hot weather. Provide partial shade (e. g. , row covers) and give them enough water when it’s really hot out.
- Some plants don’t need to be fertilized if they have a thick layer of mulch made of grass clippings, shredded leaves, or another biodegradable material.
Shelling Peas: Also known as garden or sweet peas, these are the most common types of peas available. Some good varieties to try include:
- ‘Green Arrow’ has 2- to 3-foot vines that don’t need to be supported, produce a lot of fruit, and are resistant to mildew and Fusarium wilt.
- ‘Lincoln’ has 2- to 3-foot vines that don’t need any support and can handle mildew and Fusarium wilt.
- The classic ‘Wando’ (suitable for freezing)
- ‘Thomas Laxton’ (high sugar content)
- ‘Progress No. 9’ (good disease resistance)
- ‘Little Marvel’ (grows only 15 inches tall)
Snap Peas: You eat the entire tender pod of snap peas. Some good varieties to try are:
- “Sugar Ann” vines grow only 2 feet tall and don’t need any support.
- ‘Sugar Snap’: The original (Calvin’s) just brought back. Carried only by Johnny’s Selected Seeds.
- “Early Snap” peas are ready 10 to 14 days before “Sugar Snap” peas because they mature earlier.
- ‘Super Sugar Mel’: produces 4-inch-long, very sweet pods
Snow Peas: Common in Chinese cooking, these flat-podded peas have edible pods. Some good varieties to try include:
- “Mammoth Melting Sugar” (tolerant of wilt) has 4- to 5-foot vines and stringless pods.
- ‘Oregon Sugar Pod II’: grows only 2-1/2 feet tall
- ‘Snowbird’: resistant to fusarium wilt
Video Demo: Growing Peas from Sowing to Harvest
Learn all about growing peas in our video demonstration, and then see the instructions in the guide below. Read Next.
Select a sunny location and well-draining soil. Peas will not be as sweet or productive if they are grown in part shade instead of full sun. Peas like soil that drains well, so get it ready by mixing in aged manure and/or compost, preferably in the fall.
How and When to Plant Peas
Is it too late to plant peas?
If you are planting in mid-spring onwards you are too late for the first flush of peas and if you are planting in early August you are too late for the second flash of peas.
When should I plant peas?
However, a good rule of thumb is: Wherever you live, plant peas as soon as you can stick your finger into that rich, dark brown, crumbly soil, you are generally ready to plant. The garden’s temperature is also important. Two inches down it was 52 degrees. (I love my soil thermometer!)
When should you plant peas in California?
Planting peas in fall is also an option. Plant 8-10 weeks before the first frost for best growth and the largest fall harvest. In California or the gulf states, many people grow peas from seed all winter and early spring. Cooler temperatures are preferred by the plants. Gardeners in the south typically sow peas as a mid or late fall crop.
What temperature do peas grow best?
Peas are a plant that grows best when the temperatures are between 59 ° F and 77 ° F (15 and 25 ° C) and therefore have two planting windows where the plants can be sown during the year, early spring and late summer.