Plant Peas in Zone 12a
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 12a
Zone 12a is effectively frost-free, so the Zone 12a calendar for peas is set by heat, not cold. There is no last frost to count backward from and no first frost to beat, which means the question is not whether peas will finish but whether it will sit through the hottest stretch of the year. Peas is a hardy crop needing about 60 days from sowing to harvest.
Planting peas for a fall harvest in Zone 12a
Zone 12a has no meaningful frost, so the fall and winter months are the easiest time of year to grow peas here. Sow from about October 1 onward.
Fall peas have to be sown into the heat of late summer and germinate poorly above 80 degrees, which is why they fail more often than spring peas. Sow thickly and keep the seedbed damp.
Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 12a average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.
Spring vs fall peas in Zone 12a
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Feb 1 | Feb 1 | Apr 2 |
| Fall | Oct onward | Oct onward | Winter |
Peas in nearby zones
Further reading on peas
- Fall peas in zones 6 and 7
Sow-by dates and variety picks for a fall pea crop.
- Last frost date and what to plant before it
Why peas can go out before your last frost, and how far before.
- Row covers vs frost blankets
Which cover buys peas the extra degrees on a frosty night.
Other crops in Zone 12a
Frequently asked questions
When should I start peas in Zone 12a?
Direct sow outdoors around Feb 1.
Can I direct sow peas in Zone 12a?
Yes, direct sow around Feb 1.
Can I plant peas in the fall in Zone 12a?
Zone 12a has no meaningful frost, so the fall and winter months are the easiest time of year to grow peas here. Sow from about October 1 onward.
Will peas survive frost in Zone 12a?
Peas is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 14 days past the first light frost in Zone 12a. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.