Pea

Pea

Pisum sativum

Sow outdoors 5 weeks before your last spring frost. Space plants 2 in (5 cm) apart.

Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Optimal Direct Sow

From seedRecommended
  1. Sow outdoors5 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. First harvestabout 60 days after sowing

Optimal Fall Direct Sow

From seed
  1. Sow outdoorsabout 12 weeks before your first fall frost
  2. First harvestabout 60 days after sowing

Growing pea

Spacing in the row
2 in (5 cm)
Between rows
24 in (61 cm)
Planting depth
1-2 inches
Sun
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, fertile, loamy
Germination
7-14 days at 45-75°F
Harvest season
Late Spring, Early Summer, Fall
Mature height
24-72 inches
Support
Trellis, Netting, Staking
Life cycle
Annual

Sow seeds 1-2 inches deep in prepared soil when temperatures are suitable.

Watering. Maintain consistent moisture, especially during flowering and pod development. Avoid waterlogging.

Feeding

Seedlings
Generally not required; legumes fix nitrogen.
Growing
Low nitrogen fertilizer if growth is slow; otherwise, typically not needed.
Flowering and fruiting
Ensure adequate phosphorus and potassium for optimal pod set.
How often
Rarely: minimal; pre-plant soil amendments usually satisfy it.
Note
Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers due to nitrogen-fixing capabilities.

Your pea, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add pea to your planting calendar →