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When to Plant Peas in Unity, OR

Peas
Unity, OR Zone 6b June

Your June game plan for Unity, OR

Your Unity, OR garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for June and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost May 30
Avg. first frost September 12
Soil temp (4") 66°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15.4 hrs
Looking ahead to July
  • Starting indoors: peas
  • First harvests: peas
  • Fall sowing: peas

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Peas are a cool-season legume that fixes nitrogen in the soil. Garden peas are shelled, while snap and snow peas are eaten pod and all.

Unity, Oregon is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 30 and the first fall frost is September 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 105 days.

At an elevation of 1,398 feet, Baker County receives approximately 16.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Peas during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Peas successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Unity, OR (Zone 6b) Short season
105 days
Last Spring Frost May 30
105 growing days
First Fall Frost September 12
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Unity Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Peas Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Sep 8
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 25 Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Sep 19
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 15 Transplant: Jun 19 🍅 Harvest: Aug 14 – Oct 9

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Unity

How your county's soil matches Peas's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.5) is more acidic than Peas prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Baker County is excellent for Peas — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Peas.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.8%) — Peas will thrive.

How to Plant Peas

1"
Planting Depth
4"
Between Plants
18"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Peas

2
successive plantings in your 105-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 04 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 04.

Peas Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 219 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Peas

Peas needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Peas Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 1.1" 1.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 3" 0.6" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3" 0.2" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3" 0.3" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 3" 0.8" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Baker County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Peas Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Peas needs ~906 GDD — county provides 1,522 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline — Unity, OR

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 25 Apr 25 – May 9
Transplant Outdoors May 30 May 30 – Jun 13
Direct Sow May 16 May 16 – Jun 6
Harvest July 25 Jul 25 – Sep 19
Fall Sowing July 4 Jul 4 – Jul 18

Plant 1" deep · 4" apart · Rows 18" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors
May Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

55–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

105 days in Baker County

Growing Tips for Peas in Unity

Direct sow Peas outdoors after May 30 in Baker County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Peas in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow as early as soil can be worked in spring. Inoculate seeds with rhizobium for best nitrogen fixation. Provide trellising for climbing varieties.

Recommended Peas Varieties for Unity

Heat-tolerant peas — plant very early or as fall crop

Wando (68d) Oregon Sugar Pod (60d)

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 Save Your Own Peas Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Let pods dry brown and papery on the vine.
Storage Store airtight; viable 3 years at 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Very easy to save. Self-pollinating means varieties stay true.

🌱

Your Baker County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Baker County (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Baker County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.