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When to Plant Peas in Kleberg 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.

Kleberg County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 13 and the first fall frost is December 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 299 days.

At an elevation of 1,079 feet, Kleberg County receives approximately 64.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 102ยฐF, so Peas may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Peas root diseases.

Kleberg County, TX (Zone 9a) Year-round
299 days
Last Spring Frost February 13
299 growing days
First Fall Frost December 9

Kleberg County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (202 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 23 Transplant: Jan 20 🍅 Harvest: Mar 17 – May 12
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (187 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 16 Transplant: Feb 13 🍅 Harvest: Apr 10 – Jun 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (175 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 8 Transplant: Mar 8 🍅 Harvest: May 3 – Jun 28

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 Kleberg County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7โ€“7.6) overlaps with Peas's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.9%). 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 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Peas

6
successive plantings in your 299-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 30 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Oct 14.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/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€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb 3" 2" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Mar 3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3" 7.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 10.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 9.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 8.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 6.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3" 2.3" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec 3" 1.7" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Febโ€“Dec in Kleberg 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 ~1,656 GDD — county provides 7,950 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline โ€” Kleberg County, TX

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 16 Jan 16 โ€“ Jan 30
Transplant Outdoors February 13 Feb 13 โ€“ Feb 27
Direct Sow January 23 Jan 23 โ€“ Feb 13
Harvest April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ Jun 5
Fall Sowing October 14 Oct 14 โ€“ Oct 28

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

299 days in Kleberg County

Growing Tips for Peas in Kleberg County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after February 13 in Kleberg County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Summer highs in Kleberg County reach 102ยฐF 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 Kleberg 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 Kleberg County, TX?

Kleberg County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 13. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kleberg County, TX?

Kleberg County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 13 and first fall frost is December 9.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Kleberg County gardeners in Zone 9a 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 Kleberg County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.