When to plant peas in Texas
Texas’s average last spring frost is March 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 15 — about 245 frost-free days (USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a). Pea needs 55–70 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Texas's growing season.
Texas 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 Texas: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Feb 3 – Feb 22. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Texas: Feb 20 · Mar 4 · Mar 16 · Mar 28 · Apr 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 Texas, 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 (Feb 3 – Feb 22). 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 Texas.
- 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 Apr 4 – Apr 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 Texas’s average frost dates. More in the full pea growing guide.
Pea planting dates by USDA zone in Texas
Texas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a. 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.
Questions gardeners in Texas ask
When is the best time to plant peas in Texas?
Sow peas in Texas between February 3 and February 22. That timing is set by Texas's average last spring frost of March 15; Texas spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
Can I plant peas in the fall in Texas?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 27 and September 13, so the crop matures in cool weather before Texas's first frost around November 15.
When will peas planted in Texas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, peas are usually ready from about April 4 to April 19, 55-70 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Texas?
On average around March 15, with the first fall frost around November 15 - about 245 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.