When to plant peas
Short answer
Peas are hardy: seeds can go in 2–4 weeks before your average last frost. Seeds need soil of at least 40 °F to sprout.[1, 2, 3]
Peas at a glance
| Frost tolerance | Hardy [1, 2] |
|---|---|
| Plant outside (seeds) | 2–4 weeks before the average last frost [1, 2, 3] |
| Soil temperature for seeds | At least 40 °F; best around 70 °F [1] |
| Time to harvest | About 65 days [1] |
Spring planting
- Spring, seeds: Can go in as early as 2–4 weeks before the average last frost, once the soil has dried out. Sow seeds directly in the garden: peas don’t grow well as transplants. [1, 2, 3]
Example dates for some US cities
Based on each city's main airport weather station: the date with an even chance of frost after it (32 °F). [4] Your own dates can differ: use the ZIP code box above.
| City | Average last frost | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | Mar 30 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Atlanta, GA | Mar 15 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth, TX | Mar 8 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 |
| Chicago, IL | Apr 16 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Denver, CO | May 5 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Seattle, WA | Mar 2 | Feb 2 – Feb 16 |
Questions people ask
Can peas survive frost?
Hardy crops like peas grow in daytime temperatures as low as 40 °F and may survive a frosty night. [1]
What soil temperature do peas seeds need?
At least 40 °F; they sprout best around 70 °F. [1]
How long do peas take to grow?
About 65 days. [1]
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on November 6, 2026. The wording is our own. Frost dates: NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; NOAA does not endorse this site. Some guides are written for Utah: we use only their general rules, not their local calendar dates.
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720). Colorado State University Extension. Reviewed Sep 2024.
- Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Utah. Utah State University Extension. Revised May 2025.
- Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors: I. Planning. Utah State University Extension. Feb 2025.
- U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (frost dates). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
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