Snap Peas Planting Guide
May is for snap peas
snap peas rewards gardeners who pay attention to a few basics. Here's what matters in May, wherever you're growing.
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How to water snap peas
Consistent moisture matters more than volume for snap peas. Little and often beats occasional drenching.
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Where to put snap peas
snap peas wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
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Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant snap peas. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.
Snap peas have edible pods with plump, sweet peas inside, combining the best features of snow peas and garden peas. They are a garden favorite for fresh eating.
Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon · Vegetable · Fabaceae family · 55–70 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Snap Peas Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Snap Peas?
Snap Peas Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Snap Peas planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | Mar 28 | Jun 13 | Jun 20 | Aug 15 – Oct 10 |
| Zone 2b | Mar 20 | Jun 5 | Jun 12 | Aug 7 – Oct 2 |
| Zone 3a | Mar 13 | May 29 | Jun 5 | Jul 31 – Sep 25 |
| Zone 3b | Mar 8 | May 24 | May 31 | Jul 26 – Sep 20 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 4 | May 20 | May 27 | Jul 22 – Sep 16 |
| Zone 4b | Feb 27 | May 15 | May 22 | Jul 17 – Sep 11 |
| Zone 5a | Feb 28 | May 2 | May 9 | Jul 4 – Aug 29 |
| Zone 5b | Feb 21 | Apr 25 | May 2 | Jun 27 – Aug 22 |
| Zone 6a | Feb 13 | Apr 17 | Apr 24 | Jun 19 – Aug 14 |
| Zone 6b | Feb 6 | Apr 10 | Apr 17 | Jun 12 – Aug 7 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 4 | Apr 1 | Apr 8 | Jun 3 – Jul 29 |
| Zone 7b | Jan 28 | Mar 25 | Apr 1 | May 27 – Jul 22 |
| Zone 8a | Jan 18 | Mar 15 | Mar 22 | May 17 – Jul 12 |
| Zone 8b | Jan 7 | Mar 4 | Mar 11 | May 6 – Jul 1 |
| Zone 9a | Dec 30 | Feb 10 | Feb 17 | Apr 14 – Jun 9 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 14 | Jan 25 | Feb 1 | Mar 29 – May 24 |
| Zone 10a | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 30 |
| Zone 10b | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 30 |
| Zone 11a | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 30 |
| Zone 11b | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 30 |
How to Plant Snap Peas
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
Moderate — regular watering
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.
🧪 Soil pH
6 – 7.5
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 2a – 11b
📅 Days to Maturity
55–70 days
Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.
👪 Plant Family
Fabaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Fabaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Snap Peas
Snap Peas matures in just 55–70 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.3 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Snap Peas
✅ Good Companions
❌ Keep Away From
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Snap Peas
Direct sow in early spring as soon as soil can be worked. Provide a trellis 4-6 feet tall. Harvest when pods are plump and snap cleanly when bent.
Saving Snap Peas Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.
- 200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
- Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
- Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant
Snap Peas by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Snap Peas?
Snap Peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon) takes 55 to 70 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Snap Peas grow in?
Snap Peas can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Snap Peas need?
Growing Snap Peas requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.5.