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When to Plant Peas in Caddo County, OK

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.

Caddo County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost is November 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 214 days.

At an elevation of 762 feet, Caddo County receives approximately 32.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peas during the growing season.

Caddo County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
214 days
Last Spring Frost April 4
214 growing days
First Fall Frost November 4

Caddo County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (101 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: May 23 – Jul 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Jul 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (106 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Aug 5

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 Caddo County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3โ€“7.4) is within Peas's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (4.0%). 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

4
successive plantings in your 214-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 26 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 26.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 160 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

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€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 3" 3.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 4.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 3.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 1.7" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 3" 1" 2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Nov in Caddo 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 ~1,047 GDD — county provides 3,584 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline โ€” Caddo County, OK

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 28 Feb 28 โ€“ Mar 14
Transplant Outdoors April 4 Apr 4 โ€“ Apr 18
Direct Sow March 21 Mar 21 โ€“ Apr 11
Harvest May 30 May 30 โ€“ Jul 25
Fall Sowing August 26 Aug 26 โ€“ Sep 9

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
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 Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

55โ€“70 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

214 days in Caddo County

Growing Tips for Peas in Caddo County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after April 04 in Caddo 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 Caddo 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 Caddo County, OK?

Caddo County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 4. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Caddo County, OK?

Caddo County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 4 and first fall frost is November 4.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Caddo County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Caddo County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.