When to plant peas in zone 6a
In zone 6a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 29, sow outdoors March 18 to April 1. For a fall crop, plant July 25 to August 8.
The zone 6a schedule for peas
- Sow outdoors
- March 18 to April 1
- First harvest, roughly
- May 17 to June 10
- Plant for a fall crop
- July 25 to August 8
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6a, 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 6a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 16 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 11 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 4 to October 24. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 16Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 14Safe: 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 6a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Apr 11 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Indianapolis city, IN | Apr 15 | Mar 4 to 18 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Denver, CO | May 4 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Jul 16 to 30 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | May 3 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Jul 16 to 30 |
| Omaha, NE | Apr 18 | Mar 7 to 21 | Jul 29 to Aug 12 |
| Aurora, CO | May 4 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Jul 16 to 30 |
| Lincoln, NE | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Jul 21 to Aug 4 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Jul 29 to Aug 12 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | Apr 29 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Jul 28 to Aug 11 |
| Lakewood, CO | May 5 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Jul 13 to 27 |
| Springfield, MA | May 3 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Jul 16 to 30 |
| Joliet, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 2 to 16 |
How to grow peasAll zonesPeas in zone 5bPeas in zone 6bAbout zone 6a
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