When to plant peas in zone 5a
In zone 5a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 3, sow outdoors March 22 to April 5. For a fall crop, plant July 12 to 26.
The zone 5a schedule for peas
- Sow outdoors
- March 22 to April 5
- First harvest, roughly
- May 21 to June 14
- Plant for a fall crop
- July 12 to 26
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,200 ZIP codes in zone 5a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for peas.
Dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work: a squeezed handful crumbles instead of sticking. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.
Frost risk in zone 5a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 5a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 27 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 21 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 25 to October 13. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 20Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- May 3Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Your dates for peas
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant peas where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Peas in zone 5a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | Mar 12 to 26 | Jul 24 to Aug 7 |
| St. Paul, MN | Apr 23 | Mar 12 to 26 | Jul 24 to Aug 7 |
| Anchorage, AK | May 5 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Jul 9 to 23 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | May 1 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Jul 14 to 28 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | Apr 28 | Mar 17 to 31 | Jul 20 to Aug 3 |
| Billings, MT | May 10 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Jul 9 to 23 |
| Bloomington, MN | Apr 23 | Mar 12 to 26 | Jul 22 to Aug 5 |
| Sioux City, IA | Apr 29 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Jul 13 to 27 |
| Brooklyn Park, MN | Apr 30 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Jul 16 to 30 |
| Woodbury, MN | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Jul 24 to Aug 7 |
| Plymouth, MN | Apr 29 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Jul 20 to Aug 3 |
| Blaine, MN | Apr 30 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Jul 16 to 30 |
How to grow peasAll zonesPeas in zone 4bPeas in zone 5bAbout zone 5a
Sources
- How to Grow Peas in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- Growing Green Peas in a Home Garden · University of Maryland Extension
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021) · University of Florida IFAS Extension
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- GN 154: Soil Temperature Conditions for Vegetable Seed Germination (Harrington emergence table) · UC Cooperative Extension, Sacramento County (UC ANR)
- The Fall Vegetable Garden (HO-66-W) · Purdue University Extension
- Fall Vegetable Gardening (SPES-801) · Virginia Cooperative Extension
- Growing Vegetables in Containers · University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension
- Easy Container Vegetables and How to Grow Them · NC State Extension, Onslow County