Blog

When to Plant Peas in Andrews County, TX

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.

Andrews County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost is November 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 223 days.

At an elevation of 1,776 feet, Andrews County receives approximately 52.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 100ยฐF, so Peas may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Peas will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Peas root diseases.

Andrews County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
223 days
Last Spring Frost March 29
223 growing days
First Fall Frost November 7

Andrews County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.5-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Mar 19 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jul 9
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (111 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jul 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (108 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Aug 8

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 Andrews County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.5โ€“8.2) is more alkaline than Peas prefers (6.0โ€“7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Andrews County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Peas will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.1%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting 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 223-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 29 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 29.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 3" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3" 1.8" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3" 1.2" 1.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3" 1.8" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 3" 8.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 9.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 6.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 5.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3" 2.9" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Andrews 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 ~1,562 GDD — county provides 5,575 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline โ€” Andrews County, TX

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 22 Feb 22 โ€“ Mar 8
Transplant Outdoors March 29 Mar 29 โ€“ Apr 12
Direct Sow March 15 Mar 15 โ€“ Apr 5
Harvest May 24 May 24 โ€“ Jul 19
Fall Sowing August 29 Aug 29 โ€“ Sep 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors 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 Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

55โ€“70 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

223 days in Andrews County

Growing Tips for Peas in Andrews County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after March 29 in Andrews County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Andrews County dries quickly โ€” mulch Peas with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Summer highs in Andrews County reach 100ยฐF 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 Andrews 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 Andrews County, TX?

Andrews County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 29. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Andrews County, TX?

Andrews County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and first fall frost is November 7.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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