When To Plant Peas In The Fall

Knowing when to plant peas in the fall is the key to a sweet, abundant harvest before winter arrives. Get the timing right, and you’ll enjoy a bounty of crisp pods long after summer crops have faded.

Fall pea gardening is a rewarding race against the clock. It’s all about working backward from your first expected frost date. Unlike spring planting, where you wait for the soil to warm, fall planting requires you to seed while summer heat is still lingering to give plants time to mature as days grow shorter and cooler.

To find your perfect fall planting date, you need two pieces of information: your average first fall frost date and the “days to maturity” for your chosen pea variety.

Calculating Your Planting Date

First, look up your local average first frost date. Your county extension service is a reliable source for this. Then, check the seed packet for the number of days the peas need to mature.

Here’s the simple formula:

Frost Date – Days to Maturity – 10 Extra Days = Your Ideal Planting Date

You subtract the maturity days from the frost date. Then, you subtract another 10 days. This buffer accounts for the slower growth that happens as daylight diminishes and temperatures drop in autumn. Peas are quite frost-tolerant, especially when they are mature, so a light frost or two at harvest time is usually fine.

Regional Timing Guidelines

These are general windows. Always use your frost date for the most accurate schedule.

Cool Northern Climates: Late July to mid-August is typical. The growing window is shorter, so choosing fast-maturing varieties is crucial.
Moderate Temperate Climates: Aim for planting from mid-August through early September. This is often the ideal zone for fall peas.
Warm Southern Climates: Here, you can plant in September, October, or even later for a winter harvest. The key is avoiding the peak summer heat at seeding time.

Why Timing is So Critical

Plant to early, and the summer heat can stress the seedlings, leading to poor germination and weak plants. Plant to late, and the plants won’t have enough time to produce a meaningful harvest before a hard freeze stops them in their tracks. It’s better to err slightly on the early side than to late.

Choosing the Right Peas for Fall

Not all peas are created equal for autumn production. You want varieties that mature quickly.

Shelling Peas: ‘Green Arrow’ (60 days), ‘Maestro’ (60 days).
Snap Peas: ‘Sugar Ann’ (56 days), ‘Cascadia’ (60 days).
Snow Peas: ‘Oregon Sugar Pod II’ (68 days), ‘Mammoth Melting Sugar’ (70 days).

Dwarf or bush varieties often mature faster than tall climbing types, giving you an edge.

Preparing Your Garden Bed

Fall soil preparation is straightforward. Start by removing any spent summer crops and weeds. Peas prefer well-drained soil with moderate fertility.

Loosen the soil to about 8-12 inches deep.
Mix in a 1-2 inch layer of compost or well-rotted manure. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they encourage leafy growth at the expense of pods.
Rake the bed smooth. If your soil is very dry from summer, water it thoroughly a day or two before planting.

Planting Your Peas Step-by-Step

Soak Seeds: Soak pea seeds in water for 4-6 hours before planting to speed up germination. This is especially helpful for fall’s tighter schedule.
Sow Deeply: Plant seeds about 1 to 1.5 inches deep. In warmer soil, planting a bit deeper can help keep them cooler and moist.
Spacing: Space seeds about 2 inches apart in rows. For bush types, space rows 18-24 inches apart. For climbers, install your trellis at planting time.
Water Well: After planting, water the bed gently but thoroughly. The goal is to keep the soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge, which should be in 7-10 days.

Caring for Your Fall Pea Crop

Once your peas are up, care is minimal but important.

Watering: Provide about 1 inch of water per week. Fall rains often help, but check soil moisture regularly. Consistent watering is key for plump pods.
Mulching: Apply a light layer of straw or shredded leaves around seedlings. This keeps soil cool, retains moisture, and suppresses weeds. It also protects the roots later when temperatures dip.
Feeding: Peas fix their own nitrogen, so additional fertilizer is rarely needed if you prepared the soil with compost.
Pest Watch: Aphids can be a problem. Blast them off with a strong spray of water or use insecticidal soap if infestations are severe. Covering seedlings with row cover can also deter pests.

Navigating Weather Challenges

Fall weather can be unpredictable. Here’s how to handle it.

If an unexpected heatwave hits right after planting, use shade cloth to protect the germinating seeds and young seedlings. Once cooler weather returns, remove it. For early frost warnings, you can cover your mature pea plants with a row cover or old bedsheet overnight. This protection can extend your harvest by several weeks.

Harvesting Your Fall Peas

Harvest timing is the same as in spring, but you’ll be watching the weather more closely.

Pick shelling peas when the pods are rounded and full, but still bright green.
Harvest snap peas when the pods have plumped up and are still glossy.
Pick snow peas while the pods are still flat and the peas inside are just tiny bumps.

The most important rule is to pick regularly. This encourages the plant to produce more pods. If a hard freeze is forecasted, harvest all mature pods immediately, even if they are a bit small. You can often harvest a final, large picking this way.

What to Do After the Frost

After a killing frost ends your pea season, don’t just pull the plants. Peas are nitrogen-fixers. Cut the plants off at the soil line with shears, leaving the roots in the ground to decompose and enrich the soil for next year’s crops. The vines can be added to your compost pile if they are disease-free.

FAQ: Fall Pea Planting

Can you plant peas in October?

In many warmer climates (USDA zones 8-10), yes, October is a perfect time for planting peas for a late fall or winter harvest. In colder zones, it is usually to late for a successful pod harvest before winter.

What is the latest date to plant peas?

The latest date is roughly 8-10 weeks before your first hard frost. This gives fast-maturing varieties just enough time. Use the frost date calculation method outlined above for your specific area.

Do peas need full sun in the fall?

Yes, they still need at least 6-8 hours of direct sun. As the sun’s angle lowers in the sky, a full-sun spot becomes even more important for growth and production.

Should I use inoculant for fall peas?

Absolutely. A legume inoculant is a beneficial bacteria that helps peas fix nitrogen more efficiently. It’s a cheap insurance policy for a better, faster-growing crop, especially in tired soil.

My fall peas are flowering but not setting pods. Why?

This is often caused by high temperatures. If you have an early autumn heat spell, flowering can occur but pollen can become sterile, preventing pod set. Keep plants well-watered, and pods should start forming once nights become consistently cooler.

Planting peas in the fall is a wonderful way to maximize your garden’s productivity and enjoy a fresh harvest deep into the cooler season. With careful timing, the right variety choices, and simple care, you’ll be rewarded with a delicious crop that tastes all the sweeter for being grown against the seasonal odds. Just remember to mark your calendar based on that all-important frost date.