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When to Plant Peas in Grady 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.

Grady County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost is November 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 217 days.

At an elevation of 599 feet, Grady County receives approximately 29.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peas during the growing season.

Grady County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
217 days
Last Spring Frost April 2
217 growing days
First Fall Frost November 5

Grady County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (110 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 14 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jul 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (105 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 26 Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Jul 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (108 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 Grady County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2โ€“7.2) is within Peas's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.5%). 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 217-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 27 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 27.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 286 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€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 3" 2.8" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3" 4.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 2.8" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 3" 2.1" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 3" 1.1" 1.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Nov in Grady 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 3,634 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline โ€” Grady County, OK

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 26 Feb 26 โ€“ Mar 12
Transplant Outdoors April 2 Apr 2 โ€“ Apr 16
Direct Sow March 19 Mar 19 โ€“ Apr 9
Harvest May 28 May 28 โ€“ Jul 23
Fall Sowing August 27 Aug 27 โ€“ Sep 10

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

217 days in Grady County

Growing Tips for Peas in Grady County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after April 02 in Grady 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 Grady 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 Grady County, OK?

Grady County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 2. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grady County, OK?

Grady County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 2 and first fall frost is November 5.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Grady 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 Grady County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.