Plant Peas in Zone 4a
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 4a
Zone 4a averages 135 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around May 10 to a first fall frost around September 22. Peas needs roughly 60 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 44 percent of that window. Peas is a hardy crop, which is what decides where in the window it belongs.
Peas handles cold soil, so there is no reason to wait for the frost date. Direct sow around Apr 5, roughly 5 weeks before the Zone 4a last frost, as soon as the ground is workable. Sowing at the last frost instead costs you the coolest and best part of the season.
Planting peas for a fall harvest in Zone 4a
Yes. Sow peas by July 24 in Zone 4a. That is 60 days before the average first frost, which covers the 60 days to maturity plus about two weeks for the slower growth that comes with shortening days, minus the roughly 14 days peas keeps going once light frost arrives.
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 4a 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 4a
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Apr 5 | Apr 5 | Jun 4 |
| Fall | by Jul 24 | Jul 24 | Sep 22 |
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 4a
Frequently asked questions
When should I start peas in Zone 4a?
Direct sow outdoors around Apr 5.
Can I direct sow peas in Zone 4a?
Yes, direct sow around Apr 5.
Can I plant peas in the fall in Zone 4a?
Yes. Sow peas by July 24 in Zone 4a. That is 60 days before the average first frost, which covers the 60 days to maturity plus about two weeks for the slower growth that comes with shortening days, minus the roughly 14 days peas keeps going once light frost arrives.
Will peas survive frost in Zone 4a?
Peas is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 14 days past the first light frost in Zone 4a. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.