How to Grow Pea
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🛠️ Supplies You'll Need
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🌿 Plant Overview
☀️ Growing Requirements
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Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
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Water
Regular (1 inch/week)
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Spacing
3" apart
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Depth
1" deep
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Height
24-72"
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Germination
7-14 days
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Common Pea Varieties
Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.
Oregon Sugar Pod
Flat snow pea with sweet, edible pods; the standard snow pea for home gardens.
Sugar Snap
The original snap pea; thick, crunchy pods with round peas inside — best eaten fresh.
Lincoln
Shelling pea with outstanding sweet flavor; best picked young when peas fill the pod.
Wando
Heat-tolerant shelling pea that produces longer into warm weather than other varieties.
Days-to-maturity figures are approximate and vary by climate and growing conditions.
Common Pea Problems
What to watch for — and how to fix it before it spreads.
Pests
Large, bright green aphids transmit pea enation mosaic virus and pea mosaic virus; can collapse entire plants.
Spray with insecticidal soap; plant resistant varieties; control ants that farm aphid colonies.
Larvae feed inside developing pods, ruining shelling peas; fine entry holes visible on pods.
Use row covers from flowering; choose early varieties that finish before peak moth flight.
Rasp flower petals and pods causing "silvering"; transmit tomato spotted wilt virus.
Apply spinosad; use blue sticky traps; avoid dusty conditions.
Diseases
White coating on leaves and pods; inevitable in most gardens in warm weather — accelerates end-of-season decline.
Plant early to avoid heat; choose resistant varieties; apply sulfur or potassium bicarbonate.
Soil-borne fungus causing yellowing from the bottom up; plants die rapidly.
Rotate crops every 4+ years; plant resistant varieties; improve drainage.
Seedlings collapse at the soil line in cold, wet spring soil.
Improve drainage; use raised beds; plant treated or pelleted seed.
Common Mistakes
Peas are a cool-season crop that fail in heat; most gardeners plant 2–4 weeks too late.
Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked in spring — 6 weeks before last frost is not too early.
Climbing varieties left unsupported tangle and mat on the ground, promoting disease.
Install a trellis, netting, or brush at planting — before peas need it.
🌾 Seed Saving Guide
🟢 EasyWhen to Harvest Seed
Let pods dry completely on the vine — they'll turn yellow then tan-brown.
Processing
Shell dried pods, lay seeds flat for 1 week to complete drying.
Seed Viability
Up to 3 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.
Pro Tip
Peas self-pollinate inside the closed flower bud before opening — excellent for variety purity.
Seed Storage Supplies
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Raised Bed Planting Guides
A 4×8 bed fits 16 per sq ft of Pea. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →
Pea Planting Calendar by Zone
Pea Planting Calendar by State
Other Plants
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Pea? +
Sow Pea seeds directly in the garden 6 weeks before your last frost date. Use the search on this page to find exact dates for your location.
How long does Pea take to grow? +
Pea typically matures in about 60 days from planting. Exact timing varies by variety, soil conditions, and local climate.
Should I start Pea indoors or direct sow? +
Pea does best when direct sown outdoors. Plant seeds directly in the garden at the appropriate time based on your local frost dates.
How much sun does Pea need? +
Pea requires full sun to partial shade to thrive.
How far apart should I plant Pea? +
Space Pea plants 3 inches apart to allow adequate airflow and root development.
How much water does Pea need? +
Pea has regular (1 inch/week) water needs. Consistent moisture is important especially during germination and early growth.
Can you save seeds from Pea? +
Yes — seed saving difficulty for Pea is rated easy. Let pods dry completely on the vine — they'll turn yellow then tan-brown. Shell dried pods, lay seeds flat for 1 week to complete drying.
How long do Pea seeds last in storage? +
Properly dried and stored Pea seeds remain viable for up to 3 years. Store in a cool, dark, dry location in an airtight container with a silica gel packet for best results.
Are Pea seeds open-pollinated? +
Yes — Pea is open-pollinated, meaning seeds saved from your harvest will grow plants true to the parent variety. This makes it an excellent candidate for building a self-sustaining garden.
About Pea
Cool-season crop that fixes nitrogen in soil. Provide trellising for climbing varieties.
Expect your Pea to be ready for harvest in approximately 60 days from planting.
Use the search above or browse by zone or state to find the perfect planting dates for your location.