When to plant peas in Colorado
Colorado’s average last spring frost is May 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 1 — about 149 frost-free days (USDA zones 3b, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a). Pea needs 55–70 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Colorado's growing season.
Colorado covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant peas in Colorado: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Mar 26 – Apr 14. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Colorado: Apr 12 · Apr 24 · May 6 · May 18 · May 30
Spring succession stops before summer heat makes it bolt. Start sowing again in late summer for a fall crop (see the fall window above).
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow peas in Colorado, step by step
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (Mar 26 – Apr 14). Space plants about 2 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart, sowing seed 1 inch deep. It handles frost well, so it can go out before the last frost date. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Colorado.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: aphids, pea weevil, armyworm. Diseases and disorders: powdery mildew, fusarium wilt, root rot.
- Harvest (from about May 25 – Jun 9). Pea takes 55-70 days to reach harvest. Sow as soon as the soil can be worked - 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost. Production stops once daytime highs stay above ~80 F.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Colorado’s average frost dates. More in the full pea growing guide.
Pea planting dates by USDA zone in Colorado
Colorado spans USDA zones 3b, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the pea dates shift with them.
When to plant peas in nearby states
Questions gardeners in Colorado ask
When is the best time to plant peas in Colorado?
Sow peas in Colorado between March 26 and April 14. That timing is set by Colorado's average last spring frost of May 5; Colorado spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
Can I plant peas in the fall in Colorado?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 13 and July 30, so the crop matures in cool weather before Colorado's first frost around October 1.
When will peas planted in Colorado be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, peas are usually ready from about May 25 to June 9, 55-70 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Colorado?
On average around May 5, with the first fall frost around October 1 - about 149 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.