When to Direct Sow Garden Peas: A Timing Guide
You have to know when to direct sow peas for delicious, delectable garden snacks through spring. It doesn’t matter what variety of peas you grow, as long as you get them in the ground on time, you’ll have lots to eat. Experienced gardener, Sarah Jay, helps you time it right.
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One of my favorite things to grow in early spring and fall is peas. In the past, I would try to grow them at the wrong time. But once I knew when to direct sow garden peas, things took off. Now I don’t have any issues gleaning lots of shelling peas every year.
Fresh peas are almost a delicacy in much of North America. Most people are used to mushy canned and frozen peas that lack the supple flavor of a fresh garden variety. Here in Texas, it’s easier to grow snap peas due to their heat tolerance, but there’s still a window for sowing true garden peas. If your window is small, there are other types of peas too.
Timing is everything. Get that down, and the rest is peachy. In this piece, we’ll help you establish a baseline for direct sowing and discuss a few particulars that make your pea-growing routine sound. Before you clear a space in the garden for peas, let’s cover the basics.
The Basics
The first things to consider when thinking about when to direct sow garden peas are your first and last frost dates and your hardiness zone. These frost-free days, and the days around them, are the baseline for your season. If you live in zones 5 and above, you’re likely to have a more substantial season than growers in zones 4 and below.
Most garden peas take 55 to 70 days to reach full maturity. Once you know the number of frost-free days in your season, you can decide which pea variety works best. Those with shorter seasons need peas that mature faster, while longer season growers bet on more robust periods.
One cool thing about peas is that they can handle a little bit of frost, as long as it isn’t prolonged. Because you typically sow them before your last frost, they’re unlikely to be damaged as a result of a freeze. However, they cannot handle heat above 85°F (29°C). In areas like mine, in North Texas, zone 8b, we have to cease growing peas until mid-summer.
Sowing in the Right Season
Once you’ve determined how many growing days you have, you can time your planting based on the optimal season. Remember, garden peas grow best between 40 and 70°F (4 and 21°C). The ideal soil temperature range is between 60 and 80°F (6 and 27°C). They don’t do well in heat, but they generally handle light frost just fine.
Peas don’t take kindly to root disturbance, so always sow them directly. Here are some seasonal particulars to keep in mind.
Growing in Fall
In areas with a mild fall season, direct sowing in mid-summer is a good idea. For me, spring is short, and summer’s heat comes on quickly. I have to either be really on top of my spring sowing, or wait for the mild fall season to sow more. This sets me up for a winter harvest.
For fall, sow your peas 10 to 12 weeks before your first frost. This gives you enough time to grow garden peas within the 55 to 70-day maturation period. Some areas do not have an autumn long enough and mild enough to accommodate the time needed for a winter harvest, and growers in these areas should sow in spring.
Growing in Spring
Most people who wonder when to direct sow garden peas are likely sowing in the spring season. While the plants themselves need temperatures above 40°F (4°C) to thrive, the seedlings will sprout before frost has passed. Sow your garden peas directly in the garden four to six weeks before your last winter frost.
In areas where the summer comes on after just a couple of months of spring, getting this timing right is important. Otherwise, you miss the window for a late spring or early summer harvest. In certain areas, spring sowing isn’t possible because it’s too hot most of the year. Opt for a fall sowing in these regions, or grow a heat-tolerant snap pea instead.
Best Garden Pea Varieties
Now that we’ve discussed the proper timing for when to direct sow garden peas, let’s cover the best varieties. Each mention includes the days to maturity to provide a good heads up as to whether or not a variety works for you. If you grow multiple varieties, label them appropriately to stay organized and on top of your harvest dates.
Progress #9 Shelling Pea
This pea variety was developed by 19th-century strawberry breeder Thomas Laxton, and is sometimes called ‘Laxton’s Progress #9’ as a result. It’s a heavy producer with resistance to common wilt disease. A favorite organic variety among growers all over, it requires 58 days from seed to harvest.
Green Arrow Shelling Pea
This variety is similar to Progress #9 in its ability to produce tons of pods. However, it’s a better plant for gardeners with smaller spaces, topping out at 28 inches. Pea pods set in pairs, rather than singly, and are ready for picking at 65 days. Choose this cultivar for its high disease resistance to leaf curl virus, downy mildew, root rot, and fusarium wilt.
Wando Shelling Pea
This variety is perfect for gardeners growing in areas that can swing from warm to cold quickly. It’s tolerant of both! A cross between the two heirlooms, ‘Laxton’s Progress’ and ‘Perfection’, it takes 68 days to form pods. What it lacks in disease resistance, it makes up for in its ability to weather the elements.
Little Marvel Petite Shelling Pea
The compact plants of ‘Little Marvel‘ are ready in just 55 to 60 days. This is a favorite heirloom that produces tender, sweet pods on under two-foot plants.
If you are container gardening, any pea on this list will work, but this one is ideal. You don’t even have to trellis these.
Key Takeaways
Now that you have the information you need, you know when to direct sow garden peas. As you’re planning your pea harvests, remember:
- With your growing zone and your frost dates, determine the number of frost-free days in your season to ensure you have the time you need to grow the variety you want.
- If you live in an area with harsh summers, try a fall sowing.
- If you live in an area with harsh winters, focus on spring.
- Growers in mild areas can sow in both seasons!
- Always pick a variety that suits your climate and your garden space.
