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When to Plant Peas in Lincoln County, AR

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.

Lincoln County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost is November 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 235 days.

At an elevation of 535 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 49.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peas during the growing season.

Lincoln County, AR (Zone 7b) Long season
235 days
Last Spring Frost March 19
235 growing days
First Fall Frost November 9

Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (124 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 3 Transplant: Mar 10 🍅 Harvest: May 5 – Jun 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (123 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Mar 19 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jul 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 3 – Jul 29

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 Lincoln County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7โ€“7.1) overlaps with Peas's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Lincoln County is excellent for Peas โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). Annual compost additions will help Peas.

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

5
successive plantings in your 235-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 31 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 31.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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 โ€” 4.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 3" 4.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3" 3.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 3.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 4.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 3.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3" 4.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Dec โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Lincoln County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 ~1,281 GDD — county provides 4,817 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline โ€” Lincoln County, AR

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 12 Feb 12 โ€“ Feb 26
Transplant Outdoors March 19 Mar 19 โ€“ Apr 2
Direct Sow March 5 Mar 5 โ€“ Mar 26
Harvest May 14 May 14 โ€“ Jul 9
Fall Sowing August 31 Aug 31 โ€“ Sep 14

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.7"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

55โ€“70 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

235 days in Lincoln County

Growing Tips for Peas in Lincoln County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after March 19 in Lincoln County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Summer highs in Lincoln County reach 94ยฐF โ€” grow Peas as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

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 Lincoln County

Heat-tolerant peas โ€” 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 →

๐ŸŒพ 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 35ยฐF, under 45% humidity.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Peas in Lincoln County, AR?

Lincoln County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 19. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, AR?

Lincoln County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 19 and first fall frost is November 9.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lincoln County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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