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When to Plant Peas in Brown County, NE

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.

Brown County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is October 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 150 days.

At an elevation of 833 feet, Brown County receives approximately 25.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Peas to ensure they mature before fall.

Brown County, NE (Zone 4b) Moderate season
150 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
150 growing days
First Fall Frost October 7

Brown County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (42 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Aug 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (38 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (44 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 17 – Sep 11

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
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 467 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Peas needs ~719 GDD — county provides 1,725 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline โ€” Brown County, NE

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 29 Mar 29 โ€“ Apr 12
Transplant Outdoors May 10 May 10 โ€“ May 24
Direct Sow May 3 May 3 โ€“ May 24
Fall Sowing July 15 Jul 15 โ€“ Jul 29
Harvest July 5 Jul 5 โ€“ Aug 30

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
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 4b

Growing Season

150 days

Growing Tips for Brown 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 Brown County, NE?

Brown County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Brown County, NE?

Brown County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is October 7.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Brown County gardeners in Zone 4b 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 Brown County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.