When to plant peas in zone 5b
In zone 5b, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 1, sow outdoors March 20 to April 3. For a fall crop, plant July 18 to August 1.
The zone 5b schedule for peas
- Sow outdoors
- March 20 to April 3
- First harvest, roughly
- May 19 to June 12
- Plant for a fall crop
- July 18 to August 1
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,546 ZIP codes in zone 5b, 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 5b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 5b, the typical last frost ranges from about April 21 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 18 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 30 to October 19. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 18Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- May 1Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 16Safe: 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 5b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Madison, WI | May 1 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Jul 18 to Aug 1 |
| Des Moines, IA | Apr 18 | Mar 7 to 21 | Jul 28 to Aug 11 |
| Aurora, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | Jul 31 to Aug 14 |
| Fort Collins, CO | May 2 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Jul 15 to 29 |
| Naperville, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | Jul 31 to Aug 14 |
| Rockford, IL | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Jul 25 to Aug 8 |
| Elgin, IL | Apr 26 | Mar 15 to 29 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Greeley, CO | May 2 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Jul 16 to 30 |
| Green Bay, WI | Apr 30 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Jul 17 to 31 |
| Davenport, IA | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | Jul 30 to Aug 13 |
| Longmont, CO | May 6 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Jul 13 to 27 |
How to grow peasAll zonesPeas in zone 5aPeas in zone 6aAbout zone 5b
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