When to plant peas in Montana
Montana’s average last spring frost is May 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 15 — about 123 frost-free days (USDA zones 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a). Pea needs 55–70 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Montana's growing season.
Montana 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 Montana: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Apr 5 – Apr 24. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Montana: Apr 22 · May 4 · May 16 · May 28 · Jun 9
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 Montana, 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 (Apr 5 – Apr 24). 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 Montana.
- 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 Jun 4 – Jun 19). 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 Montana’s average frost dates. More in the full pea growing guide.
Pea planting dates by USDA zone in Montana
Montana spans USDA zones 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a. 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 Montana ask
When is the best time to plant peas in Montana?
Sow peas in Montana between April 5 and April 24. That timing is set by Montana's average last spring frost of May 15; Montana spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
Can I plant peas in the fall in Montana?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between June 27 and July 14, so the crop matures in cool weather before Montana's first frost around September 15.
When will peas planted in Montana be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, peas are usually ready from about June 4 to June 19, 55-70 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Montana?
On average around May 15, with the first fall frost around September 15 - about 123 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.