Peas are a beloved crop for many home gardeners. Their sweet flavor and satisfying crunch make them one of the most rewarding vegetables to grow. However, one frustration with peas is their notoriously short harvesting window. This leaves many gardeners wondering: how late in the season can you plant peas and still get a good harvest?
While the traditional wisdom states you should plant peas as early in spring as possible, there are methods for successfully planting and growing peas much later. With some planning and clever techniques, it’s possible to plant peas through summer and even into fall and winter in some climates.
In this article, we’ll share everything you need to know to maximize your pea harvesting season We’ll cover
- How planting dates vary by growing zone
- Ideal soil temperature for planting peas
- Tips for warming up spring soil to enable earlier planting
- Fast-maturing pea varieties that allow for later planting
- Strategies for planting fall and winter peas
Follow these tips to enjoy fresh garden peas for months longer than you thought possible!
Regional Planting Dates Vary Based on Climate
The first key point is that recommended planting times for peas depend heavily on your hardiness zone and last spring frost date.
In the Deep South and Southwest, gardeners can often plant peas in late winter. But in the far North and Midwest, the ground is still frozen solid at that time. Northern gardeners typically need to wait to plant peas 1-2 months before the anticipated last frost date.
So forget about rigid planting dates like “St. Patrick’s Day” or “Easter” The key is monitoring soil temperature and being aware of your local climate patterns Peas can withstand some cold, but prolonged hard freezes will kill them.
Here are some general guidelines for planting peas by growing zone:
- 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 regions, there are ways to safely push up your planting timeline…
Ideal Soil Temperature for Planting Peas
Peas prefer relatively cool soil temperatures, around 45-75°F. But they have good cold tolerance, especially as seedlings. Young pea sprouts can even handle light frosts.
So focus more on soil temp than air temp or frost dates when deciding when to plant. Test the soil temperature 4 inches down – peas can be planted if it’s at least 40°F, even if colder weather is coming. Just avoid sowing right before an Arctic blast.
Warming Spring Soil for Earlier Planting
When spring soil is too cold for peas, there are some tricks to safely warm it up:
- Use plastic mulch or low tunnels to trap heat
- Mix in compost which generates warmth as it breaks down
- Choose a south-facing location warmed by sunlight
- Cover planted rows with fabric row cover
With these warming techniques, it’s possible to plant peas weeks earlier than usual. The peas will mature quickly once the soil does warm up.
Fast-Maturing Varieties Extend the Season
Standard pea varieties need 60-70 days of cool conditions to reach maturity. But fast-maturing types can produce harvestable pods in just 50-55 days.
When planting late, choose one of these quick-growing peas to maximize your odds of harvesting before summer heat sets in:
- Little Marvel (49 days to maturity)
- Early Perfection (55 days)
- Progress #9 (57 days)
- Springer (58 days)
While yields will be lower, fast-maturing peas allow you to harvest something from late plantings.
Planting Peas in Late Summer and Fall
In mild climates (zones 7-10), a second crop of peas can be planted in late summer for fall and early winter harvesting. Sow seeds 10-12 weeks before the anticipated first fall frost.
Tips for successful late season plantings:
- Prioritize quick-maturing and disease resistant varieties
- Use shade cloth to protect plants from hot sun
- Maintain consistent soil moisture with mulch and irrigation
- Add trellises to moderate temperature and boost air circulation
With some lucky weather, you may be picking fresh peas around the winter holidays!
Overwintering Peas in Mild Climates
In zones 7-9, certain pea varieties can be planted in fall and then overwintered for an extra early spring crop. The dormant plants will survive the winter and be ready to grow when conditions warm.
Some heirloom types known for overwintering ability include:
- Prussian Blue Peas
- Carouby de Maussane Pea
- Cascadia Snap Pea
Provide overwintered peas with protective cover to improve their winter survival rate. You may lose some plants, but the survivors will give you a head start on spring harvesting.
Getting a Head Start with Pea Shoots
If you simply can’t wait for full-size pods, consider harvesting pea shoots! Pea shoots are the young, tender tips of vines, usually picked when 4-6 inches tall.
Plant some peas just for shoots 2-4 weeks before your last expected frost. Start clipping once plants are established. Pea shoots add sweet pea flavor to salads, pastas, and stir fries.
Final Tips for Maximizing Your Pea Harvest
Here are a few more techniques to enjoy garden-fresh peas for as long as possible:
- Stagger plantings every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvests
- Provide shade and trellises in summer to prolong productivity
- Pick pods early and often to encourage more production
- Prioritize disease-resistant varieties
- Try overwintering plants and planting specifically for pea shoots
With some planning and preparation, you can be harvesting tasty homegrown peas months past the traditional end of pea season. Just monitor your soil temperature, choose quick-maturing varieties, and experiment with new planting times.
What’s your best tip for extending the pea harvesting period? Let us know in the comments below!
It’s easy to test soil temperature
I use a $7 meat thermometer, jabbed three or four inches into the soil.
Amend the soil with compost/composted manure, but skip fertilizer unless you already know your soil is missing something important. Plant peas one inch deep and two inches apart. There’s no need to be exact. Peas that are a little deeper will come up a day later. Better a little too deep than not deep enough.
When peas are too shallow they’ll push up out of the soil or the soil will wash away during rain or watering. Be sure to check the rows in a day or two and cover the seeds peeking out.
Vines that are 24 inches tall or shorter aren’t worth my time for staking. They’re easy to move while picking, and if they fall over, they don’t have far to go. I stake anything taller than 24 inches.
Over the years I’ve learned to place the stakes and wrap the twine the day I plant. I’m prone to “tomorrow.” You’ll save yourself a lot of time if you get your stakes and twine or trellis up before the seeds germinate. Trying to play catch up to wind vines into their support when they’re growing is like keeping a toddler still it doesn’t happen easily.
You’ll have a better chance of having fresh peas on a certain date if you choose your varieties by Days to Maturity. Early peas are a treat even if they’re not the best tasting variety you’ll grow each year.
The second round of peas is planted around July 1. The summer heat hasn’t bothered the plants, and it’s usually over when the plants blossom and start producing.
If everything comes together as I hope, I pull the spinach that’s just starting to bolt to make room for peas. The spinach is planted as soon as the soil temperature is 40 degrees, so it’s ahead of the peas and just about done by late June.
The soil temperature in July is much warmer than 45 degrees, so the peas germinate quickly. You can soak the peas in water overnight to aid germination if the soil is dry.
Robin Follette and her husband, Steve, operate Seasons Eatings Farm in Talmadge, Maine.
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This is getting complicated, but there’s an easier way
Forget the date. I’ll still have snow and frozen ground on Easter, but I will have peas by the Fourth of July. Fresh peas and salmon are a Fourth of July tradition here.
Forget USDA Hardiness Zones. One of the questions I’m frequently asked is, “When do I plant peas in Zone 5?” Don’t choose your planting date by your zone. It’s as unreliable as planting peas on St Patrick’s Day in Maine.
When the soil is 45 degrees, is well drained, doesn’t drip water or form a clump when squeezed into a ball, and the likelihood of overnight temperatures being in the teens is small, it’s time to plant peas. Snow isn’t a big worry. Snow melts on 45-degree soil. A few days under a blanket of snow shouldn’t hurt the young plants.
How Late Can You Plant Peas? – Garden Quickie Episode 220
FAQ
What’s the latest you can plant peas?
About Peas
It’s essential to plant them early enough in spring so they mature while the weather is still cool! (This means planting in most parts of the United States and Canada in February, March, or April.) However, they can also be grown as a fall or winter crop in warmer regions.
Is it too late to plant peas in August?
All varieties of field peas can be planted from early April through August. They will continue to thrive when many of your spring crops have been harvested or conquered by the heat and humidity.
Can I plant peas in July?
Early peas are a treat even if they’re not the best tasting variety you’ll grow each year. The second round of peas is planted around July 1. The summer heat hasn’t bothered the plants, and it’s usually over when the plants blossom and start producing.
Is it too late to set peas?
How to sow pea seeds. Pea seeds can be sown directly into the soil outdoors from February through to June.