How to Grow Peas
Pisum sativum
Peas are a beloved cool-season crop that thrives in mild temperatures and provides fresh pods filled with protein-rich peas. Gardeners prize them for their ease of growth, vibrant colors, and ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, making them an excellent addition to any vegetable garden.
📷 Wikipedia: PeaStarting Peas: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Peas is not usually started indoors.
Peas are best direct-sown into the garden rather than started indoors and transplanted.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. As a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors 2 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost date since they tolerate light chilling. Plant the seed about one inch deep in rows spaced two feet apart. Germination typically occurs within seven to fourteen days once moisture is present.
Space plants two to three inches apart along the row line. Because peas can grow up to six feet tall, provide a trellis or netting immediately so vines climb rather than sprawl on the ground. Keep soil consistently moist during flowering for best pod development. Apply light mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds once seedlings establish.
Watch for aphids, which can be controlled by spraying water or introducing ladybugs, and powdery mildew, prevented by good air circulation. Harvest pods when they feel full but before they become tough; this usually takes fifty-five to seventy days from sowing. Pick regularly to encourage continued production throughout the season.
When to Plant Peas
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | July – September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | February – December |
