When to plant peas by zone
Pisum sativum is a cool-season crop that is hardy to frost. Rule of thumb: direct sow from 6 weeks before to 3 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow or plant 8–10 weeks before the first fall frost.
Peas planting dates by zone
Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Oct 1 – Jan 31.
| Zone | Median last frost | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a* | May 29 | — | — | Apr 17 – May 8 | — |
| 1b* | May 29 | — | — | Apr 17 – May 8 | — |
| 2a | May 21 | — | — | Apr 9 – Apr 30 | Jun 23 – Jul 7 |
| 2b* | May 20 | — | — | Apr 8 – Apr 29 | Jun 25 – Jul 9 |
| 3a* | Jun 4 | — | — | Apr 23 – May 14 | — |
| 3b* | May 24 | — | — | Apr 12 – May 3 | Jul 10 – Jul 24 |
| 4a | May 12 | — | — | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | Jul 19 – Aug 2 |
| 4b | May 5 | — | — | Mar 24 – Apr 14 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
| 5a | May 4 | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 13 | Jul 25 – Aug 8 |
| 5b | May 4 | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 13 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| 6a | May 4 | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 13 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| 6b | Apr 26 | — | — | Mar 15 – Apr 5 | Aug 12 – Aug 26 |
| 7a | Apr 22 | — | — | Mar 11 – Apr 1 | Aug 12 – Aug 26 |
| 7b | Apr 10 | — | — | Feb 27 – Mar 20 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| 8a | Apr 1 | — | — | Feb 18 – Mar 11 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| 8b | Mar 22 | — | — | Feb 8 – Mar 1 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 |
| 9a | Mar 11 | — | — | Jan 28 – Feb 18 | Sep 10 – Sep 24 |
| 9b | Feb 12 | — | — | Jan 1 – Jan 22 | Sep 24 – Oct 8 |
| 10a | Jan 26 | — | — | Dec 15 – Jan 5 | Oct 6 – Oct 20 |
| 10b | Jan 27 | — | — | Dec 16 – Jan 6 | Oct 4 – Oct 18 |
| 11a | Rare | Oct 1 – Jan 31 | |||
| 11b* | Rare | Oct 1 – Jan 31 | |||
| 12a* | Rare | Oct 1 – Jan 31 | |||
| 12b | Rare | Oct 1 – Jan 31 | |||
| 13a* | Rare | Oct 1 – Jan 31 | |||
| 13b* | Rare | Oct 1 – Jan 31 | |||
Growing tips
- Sow as soon as the soil can be worked; peas stop setting pods in heat.
- An inoculant helps on new ground.
- Pick often — mature pods signal the plant to stop.
Related guides: which frost date to use · succession and fall planting.
Exact dates for your city
Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.
Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Basil, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Beets
Peas planting questions
When can I plant peas outside?
Sow seed directly from 6 weeks before to 3 weeks before the last frost, once the soil reaches about 40°F (4.4°C). Examples: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Mar 23 – Apr 13; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Mar 15 – Apr 5; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Feb 18 – Mar 11.
Can I grow peas as a fall crop?
Yes. Sow or plant 8–10 weeks before your first fall frost. For a first frost around Oct 15, that is Aug 6 – Aug 20. Add about two weeks to the days to maturity for slower fall growth — see fall planting.
How long does peas take to grow?
55–70 days from sowing. As a hardy cool-season crop it grows best in cool weather, so spring plantings should mature before summer heat, and fall plantings need about two extra weeks because days are shorter.
What soil temperature does peas need?
At least 40°F (4.4°C) at planting depth. Cold soil slows germination more than a short delay in planting does, so in a cold spring it pays to wait a week past the usual date. As a hardy crop, peas tolerates light frost.
How far apart should I plant peas?
Recommended in-row spacing: 2 in along a trellis. Sow as soon as the soil can be worked; peas stop setting pods in heat.
When do you plant peas where frost is rare?
In frost-free climates, plant peas Oct 1 – Jan 31, timing growth for the mildest months. This applies to cities such as Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA.