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When to Plant Peas in La Salle 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.

La Salle County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is February 14 and the first fall frost is December 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 292 days.

At an elevation of 2,270 feet, La Salle County receives approximately 57.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peas during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Peas root diseases.

La Salle County, TX (Zone 8b) Year-round
292 days
Last Spring Frost February 14
292 growing days
First Fall Frost December 3

La Salle County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (188 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 26 Transplant: Jan 30 🍅 Harvest: Mar 27 – May 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (180 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 10 Transplant: Feb 14 🍅 Harvest: Apr 11 – Jun 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (169 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Mar 14 🍅 Harvest: May 9 – Jul 4

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 La Salle County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“7.6) overlaps with Peas's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Peas.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.0%). 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

6
successive plantings in your 292-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 24 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 24.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 235 gal / 100 sq ft

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€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb 3" 2" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Mar 3" 3.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3" 5.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 7.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 10.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 7.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 5.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 3.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3" 2" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec 3" 1.6" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Febโ€“Dec in La Salle 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 ~1,188 GDD — county provides 5,567 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline โ€” La Salle County, TX

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 10 Jan 10 โ€“ Jan 24
Transplant Outdoors February 14 Feb 14 โ€“ Feb 28
Direct Sow January 31 Jan 31 โ€“ Feb 21
Harvest April 11 Apr 11 โ€“ Jun 6
Fall Sowing September 24 Sep 24 โ€“ Oct 8

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 Fall Sowing
October Fall Sowing
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: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

292 days in La Salle County

Growing Tips for Peas in La Salle County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after February 14 in La Salle County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Summer highs in La Salle County reach 92ยฐF 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 La Salle 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 La Salle County, TX?

La Salle County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of February 14. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is La Salle County, TX?

La Salle County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is February 14 and first fall frost is December 3.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help La Salle County gardeners in Zone 8b 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 La Salle County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.