When to plant Pea
A cool-season legume sown as early as the ground can be worked. Shelling, snap, and snow types all climb and appreciate a trellis. They fix nitrogen and quit once summer heat arrives, leaving the bed enriched for a follow-on crop.
Companions: Carrot, radish, cucumber — avoid onion and garlic
How to grow Pea
Pea is best direct-sown straight into the garden, as it dislikes being transplanted. Give it full sun and space plants about 2 inches apart. It takes roughly 65 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. Classic companions include carrot, radish, cucumber — avoid onion and garlic.
Grower's tip: One of the first things to sow in spring — it thrives in cool weather and fades in heat.
When to plant Pea by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same pea goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Direct sow outdoors May 4–May 25 |
| Zone 1b | Direct sow outdoors Apr 29–May 20 |
| Zone 2a | Direct sow outdoors Apr 24–May 15 |
| Zone 2b | Direct sow outdoors Apr 18–May 9 |
| Zone 3a | Direct sow outdoors Apr 13–May 4 |
| Zone 3b | Direct sow outdoors Apr 8–Apr 29 |
| Zone 4a | Direct sow outdoors Apr 3–Apr 24 |
| Zone 4b | Direct sow outdoors Mar 29–Apr 19 |
| Zone 5a | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 14 |
| Zone 5b | Direct sow outdoors Mar 19–Apr 9 |
| Zone 6a | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Mar 31 |
| Zone 6b | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Mar 25 |
| Zone 7a | Direct sow outdoors Feb 24–Mar 17 |
| Zone 7b | Direct sow outdoors Feb 18–Mar 11 |
| Zone 8a | Direct sow outdoors Feb 8–Mar 1 |
| Zone 8b | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Feb 22 |
| Zone 9a | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 7 |
| Zone 9b | Direct sow outdoors Jan 4–Jan 25 |
| Zone 10a | Direct sow outdoors Dec 20–Jan 10 |
| Zone 10b | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Dec 25 |
| Zone 11a | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 11 |
| Zone 11b | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 11 |
| Zone 12a | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 11 |
| Zone 12b | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 11 |
| Zone 13a | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 11 |
| Zone 13b | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 11 |