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When to Plant Peas in Lamb 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.

Lamb County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 202 days.

At an elevation of 1,440 feet, Lamb County receives approximately 56.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 96ยฐF, 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.

Lamb County, TX (Zone 7a) Long season
202 days
Last Spring Frost April 8
202 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Lamb County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.5-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (86 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: May 29 – Jul 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (90 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 3 – Jul 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (90 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Aug 17

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 Lamb County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.5โ€“8.4) is more alkaline than Peas prefers (6.0โ€“7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Lamb 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 (0.9%). 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 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Peas

4
successive plantings in your 202-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 18 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 18.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 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€” 3.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 3.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 3" 2" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3" 1.2" 1.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3" 2" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 3" 8.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 11.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 8.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 5.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov โ€” 3.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Lamb 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 ~1,375 GDD — county provides 4,444 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline โ€” Lamb County, TX

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 4 Mar 4 โ€“ Mar 18
Transplant Outdoors April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 22
Direct Sow March 25 Mar 25 โ€“ Apr 15
Harvest June 3 Jun 3 โ€“ Jul 29
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Sep 1

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
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 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

202 days in Lamb County

Growing Tips for Peas in Lamb County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after April 08 in Lamb County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Lamb 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 Lamb County reach 96ยฐF 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 Lamb 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 Lamb County, TX?

Lamb County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 8. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lamb County, TX?

Lamb County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 8 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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