When to plant peas in Massachusetts
Massachusetts’s average last spring frost is April 24, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 14 — about 173 frost-free days (USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a). Pea needs 55–70 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Massachusetts's growing season.
When to plant peas in Massachusetts: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Mar 15 – Apr 3. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Massachusetts: Apr 1 · Apr 13 · Apr 25 · May 7 · May 19
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 Massachusetts, 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 15 – Apr 3). 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 Massachusetts.
- 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 14 – May 29). 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 Massachusetts’s average frost dates. More in the full pea growing guide.
Pea planting dates by USDA zone in Massachusetts
Massachusetts spans USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 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
| State | Last frost | Sow |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (this page) | April 24 | Mar 15 – Apr 3 |
| Maine | May 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 23 |
| New Hampshire | May 13 | Apr 3 – Apr 22 |
| Vermont | May 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 23 |
| Rhode Island | April 25 | Mar 16 – Apr 4 |
| Connecticut | April 25 | Mar 16 – Apr 4 |
| New York | May 1 | Mar 22 – Apr 10 |
Questions gardeners in Massachusetts ask
When is the best time to plant peas in Massachusetts?
Sow peas in Massachusetts between March 15 and April 3. That timing is set by Massachusetts's average last spring frost of April 24.
Can I plant peas in the fall in Massachusetts?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 26 and August 12, so the crop matures in cool weather before Massachusetts's first frost around October 14.
When will peas planted in Massachusetts be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, peas are usually ready from about May 14 to May 29, 55-70 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Massachusetts?
On average around April 24, with the first fall frost around October 14 - about 173 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.