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When to Plant Snap Peas in Glenn County, CA

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.

Glenn County, California is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 6 and the first fall frost is November 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 267 days.

At an elevation of 270 feet, Glenn County receives approximately 27.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Snap Peas during the growing season.

Glenn County, CA (Zone 9a) Long season
267 days
Last Spring Frost March 6
267 growing days
First Fall Frost November 28

Glenn County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (151 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 12 Transplant: Mar 2 🍅 Harvest: Apr 27 – Jun 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (148 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 23 Transplant: Mar 13 🍅 Harvest: May 8 – Jul 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (126 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jun 20 – Aug 15

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 Glenn County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“7.9) overlaps with Snap Peas's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). Annual compost additions will help Snap Peas.

How to Plant Snap Peas

1"
Planting Depth
4"
Between Plants
18"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Snap Peas

5
successive plantings in your 267-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 19 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 780 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Snap Peas

Snap 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 Snap Peas Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 5.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 5.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 3" 4.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3" 2.5" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3" 0.7" 2.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3" 0.1" 2.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 3" 0" 3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 3" 0" 3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 3" 0.3" 2.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 3" 1.3" 1.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov 3" 2.5" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 4.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Glenn County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Snap 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.

Snap Peas needs ~1,000 GDD — county provides 4,272 GDD Excellent fit

Snap Peas Planting Timeline โ€” Glenn County, CA

Snap Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 23 Jan 23 โ€“ Feb 6
Transplant Outdoors March 13 Mar 13 โ€“ Mar 27
Direct Sow March 6 Mar 6 โ€“ Mar 27
Harvest May 8 May 8 โ€“ Jul 3

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Start Indoors
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April โ€”
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August โ€”
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.7"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

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

267 days in Glenn County

Growing Tips for Snap Peas in Glenn County

Direct sow Snap Peas outdoors after March 06 in Glenn County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Snap 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 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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Snap Peas in Glenn County, CA?

Glenn County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of March 6. Plan your Snap Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Glenn County, CA?

Glenn County, California is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 6 and first fall frost is November 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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