When to Plant Snow Pea in Washington

Growing Snow Pea in Washington: Complete Guide

Snow Pea (Pisum sativum var. saccharatum) is a crop that grows best when sown directly in the garden. Depending on your zone, the right time to direct sow in Washington falls between December 30, 2026 (Zone 9b) and March 14, 2027 (Zone 5b), once soil temperatures are consistently warm enough for germination.

Because Washington stretches across 9 USDA hardiness zones (5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b), planting windows can shift by as much as six to eight weeks from one end of the state to the other. Gardeners in the warmer southern zones can start earlier, while those in cooler northern zones should wait until the zone table above shows their last frost has passed.

With 60 days to maturity, Snow Pea fits comfortably within Washington's growing season in most zones. In the warmest parts of the state, a second planting later in the season may be possible.

Snow Pea requires full sun to partial shade and regular (1 inch/week) moisture. The Pacific Northwest's cool, wet springs delay soil warm-up; raised beds and black plastic mulch help jump-start the season.

For the most precise planting dates tailored to your exact location, enter your ZIP code on our planting calendar or use the zone table above to find the schedule for your area of Washington.