Blog

When to Plant Peas in Stonewall 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.

Stonewall County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 24 and the first fall frost is November 14, giving you a growing season of approximately 235 days.

At an elevation of 2,417 feet, Stonewall County receives approximately 57.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 98ยฐF, 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.

Stonewall County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
235 days
Last Spring Frost March 24
235 growing days
First Fall Frost November 14

Stonewall County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.2-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (120 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 10 Transplant: Mar 17 🍅 Harvest: May 12 – Jul 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (123 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 17 Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (113 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 Stonewall County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.2โ€“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 Stonewall 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

5
successive plantings in your 235-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 05 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 05.

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€” 3.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 3" 3.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3" 2.1" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3" 1.3" 1.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3" 2.3" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 3" 10" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 12.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 7.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3" 3.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Dec โ€” 4.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Stonewall 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 ~1,469 GDD — county provides 5,522 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline โ€” Stonewall County, TX

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 17 Feb 17 โ€“ Mar 3
Transplant Outdoors March 24 Mar 24 โ€“ Apr 7
Direct Sow March 10 Mar 10 โ€“ Mar 31
Harvest May 19 May 19 โ€“ Jul 14
Fall Sowing September 5 Sep 5 โ€“ Sep 19

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
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August โ€”
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

235 days in Stonewall County

Growing Tips for Peas in Stonewall County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after March 24 in Stonewall County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Stonewall 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 Stonewall County reach 98ยฐF 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 Stonewall 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 Stonewall County, TX?

Stonewall County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 24. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Stonewall County, TX?

Stonewall County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 24 and first fall frost is November 14.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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