Growing Peas

Pisum sativum : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S S S S S S S      
      T T T T T T T    
      P P P P P P      

(Best months for growing Peas in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 24°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 5 - 8 cm apart
  • Harvest in 9-11 weeks. Pick the pods every day to increase production.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Potatoes

Your comments and tips

10 Jul 20, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
When the crop has nearly finished you need to let the pods dry out, go brown. Dry them out for another two weeks and then put in a bag and then store in an air tight jar in the fridge for next year. Fresh peas will probably go rotten in the soil. I don't know how long seeds need to be kept before they germinate. Google it maybe.
05 Aug 22, clara (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I shelled my seed peas green last year and left them in a bowl in the kitchen to dry. 90% germination rate when they were planted out 6 months later.
17 May 20, Chris Chitumwa (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Thanks for the info. I was looking for the best time to grow peas in my small garden. The article was very helpful.
19 May 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hoped you looked up your climate zone in S A for the info. Planting is a couple of months later than sub- tropical Australia. We receive most of our rain in the summer also.
08 May 20, Heather (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi. Newbie here both to this site and to veggie growing in general. Thrilled to find your site. I have two questions about Mammoth 'Snow Peas' which I planted in late April (doing well). First, how long might these plants bear in my sub-tropical region and should I continue sowing more peas into autumn? And, second, I've seen advice to pick the young shoots on pea plants (edible, I'm told) to encourage them to become more 'bushy'; does this apply only to 'bush' type peas or to climbing varieties also? Thank you in anticipation.
11 May 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I grew Mammoth and they grew very tall before flowering. I recommend Oregon giant. They will bear over a few weeks, 3 maybe 4. Do plantings about 1 month apart. I don't pinch the top out, not necessary. Make a trellis for them about 1.2-1.5m high. A bit of chicken wire.
24 Apr 20, shantipa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
can snap peas grow in an area which receives 4hrs/day sunlight?
27 Apr 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Probably not very well, other words a light crop probably. Look up hours of sunlight for snap peas on the internet.
11 Feb 20, William Maconachie (Australia - tropical climate)
Will sweet peas grow and flower in Cairns, Far North Qld ?
16 Mar 20, Merleen (Australia - tropical climate)
Will sweet peas grow in North Queensland
Showing 21 - 30 of 120 comments

Tony, we left peas off the tropical calendar because the climate is usually too hot for them. Have you tried asparagus peas? They can cope with warmer weather. You use the pod whole like sugar peas.

- Liz

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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