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When to Plant Snap Peas in Clay County, NE

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.

Clay County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost is October 14, giving you a growing season of approximately 175 days.

At an elevation of 967 feet, Clay County receives approximately 27.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Snap Peas during the growing season.

Clay County, NE (Zone 5a) Moderate season
175 days
Last Spring Frost April 22
175 growing days
First Fall Frost October 14

Clay County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Snap Peas

Snap Peas needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Snap Peas Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.9" 2.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Snap Peas Planting Timeline โ€” Clay County, NE

Snap Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 25 Feb 25 โ€“ Mar 11
Transplant Outdoors May 6 May 6 โ€“ May 20
Direct Sow April 29 Apr 29 โ€“ May 20
Harvest July 1 Jul 1 โ€“ Aug 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

55โ€“70 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

175 days in Clay County

Growing Tips for Clay County

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 Clay County, NE?

Clay County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of April 22. Plan your Snap Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Clay County, NE?

Clay County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 22 and first fall frost is October 14.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Clay County gardeners in Zone 5a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Clay County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.