When to plant peas in Michigan
Michigan’s average last spring frost is May 10, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 5 — about 148 frost-free days (USDA zones 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b). Pea needs 55–70 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Michigan's growing season.
Michigan 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 Michigan: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Mar 31 – Apr 19. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Michigan: Apr 17 · Apr 29 · May 11 · May 23 · Jun 4
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 Michigan, 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 31 – Apr 19). 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 Michigan.
- 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 30 – Jun 14). 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 Michigan’s average frost dates. More in the full pea growing guide.
Pea planting dates by USDA zone in Michigan
Michigan spans USDA zones 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b. 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 Michigan ask
When is the best time to plant peas in Michigan?
Sow peas in Michigan between March 31 and April 19. That timing is set by Michigan's average last spring frost of May 10; Michigan spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
Can I plant peas in the fall in Michigan?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 17 and August 3, so the crop matures in cool weather before Michigan's first frost around October 5.
When will peas planted in Michigan be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, peas are usually ready from about May 30 to June 14, 55-70 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Michigan?
On average around May 10, with the first fall frost around October 5 - about 148 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.