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When to Plant Peas in Dent County, MO

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.

Dent County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 200 days.

At an elevation of 774 feet, Dent County receives approximately 31.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peas during the growing season.

Dent County, MO (Zone 6a) Long season
200 days
Last Spring Frost April 10
200 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Dent County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (84 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Jul 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (88 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 6 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jul 31
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (90 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 13

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 595 gal / 100 sq ft
Peas needs ~1,141 GDD — county provides 3,650 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline โ€” Dent County, MO

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 6 Mar 6 โ€“ Mar 20
Transplant Outdoors April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ Apr 24
Direct Sow March 27 Mar 27 โ€“ Apr 17
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Sep 1
Harvest June 5 Jun 5 โ€“ Jul 31

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

55โ€“70 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7.5

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

200 days

Growing Tips for Dent County

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

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Level Up Your Garden

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 Dent County, MO?

Dent County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 10. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dent County, MO?

Dent County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 10 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Dent County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Dent County, MO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.