Peas are one of the first crops of spring, sown four to six weeks before your last frost. Find your zone below, or enter your ZIP code for dates based on the weather station closest to you.
Pea dates for your ZIP code
Planting times based on university extension guidance (UNH, Cornell, Purdue, Minnesota, Nebraska and UMass Extension). Frost dates from NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest weather station. Zones derived from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map data (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). This is not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Pea planting dates by zone
| USDA zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April 11 – April 25 |
| Zone 4 | April 4 – April 18 |
| Zone 5 | March 27 – April 10 |
| Zone 6 | March 20 – April 3 |
| Zone 7 | March 6 – March 20 |
| Zone 8 | February 17 – March 3 |
| Zone 9 | January 20 – February 3 |
Not sure of your zone? Look it up by ZIP code.
Why peas go in so early
Peas are a cool-season crop. Young plants survive light frost, grow once it is above about 40 °F, and do best at 55–65 °F. Above about 85 °F they stop flowering and setting pods. That is why peas are sown four to six weeks before the last spring frost, as soon as the soil can be worked.
How to plant peas
- Sow seeds about 1 inch deep, 1–2 inches apart, in a shallow trench or wide row.
- Put up support at sowing for tall varieties: two stakes with string or netting between them.
- Expect seedlings in 7–10 days.
- Sow again a week later, and again the week after, for a longer harvest.
- Go easy on fertilizer. Peas don’t need much.
Harvesting peas
Pick shelling peas when the pods are full and the peas are sweet and tender. Pick snow peas when the pods reach full length but the peas inside are still tiny, and sugar snaps when the pods look almost filled. Check every couple of days: over-mature peas turn starchy, with tough skins. Cook or chill them right away, because quality drops quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Can peas survive frost?
Young pea plants survive light frost, so they are sown four to six weeks before your last spring frost.
Do peas need a trellis?
Tall varieties, which can reach 5 feet, need one. Bush varieties grow 2–3 feet tall and stand on their own.
What is the difference between snap, snow and shelling peas?
Shelling peas are grown for the peas inside. Snow peas have flat pods eaten young. Sugar snaps have thick, sweet pods eaten whole.
Sources. Planting dates use the median frost dates of each USDA zone, calculated from NOAA climate data for every ZIP code in the zone.