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When to Plant Snow Peas in Lycoming County, PA

Snow peas are a flat-podded pea variety eaten whole when the seeds inside are still tiny. They are essential in Asian stir-fries and have a delicate, sweet flavor.

Lycoming County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 171 days.

At an elevation of 818 feet, Lycoming County receives approximately 40.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Snow Peas to ensure they mature before fall.

Lycoming County, PA (Zone 5b) Moderate season
171 days
Last Spring Frost April 30
171 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Lycoming County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

4.8-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (58 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Aug 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (59 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (57 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 11 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Sep 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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Snow Peas needs ~748 GDD — county provides 2,223 GDD Excellent fit

Snow Peas Planting Timeline โ€” Lycoming County, PA

Snow Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 9
Transplant Outdoors April 30 Apr 30 โ€“ May 14
Direct Sow April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ May 7
Fall Sowing August 9 Aug 9 โ€“ Aug 23
Harvest June 25 Jun 25 โ€“ Aug 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

50โ€“65 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7.5

USDA Zone

Zone 5b

Growing Season

171 days

Growing Tips for Lycoming County

Direct sow in early spring. Pick pods frequently when they are flat and tender for best flavor. Provide support for climbing varieties.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Snow Peas in Lycoming County, PA?

Lycoming County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 30. Plan your Snow Peas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lycoming County, PA?

Lycoming County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 30 and first fall frost is October 18.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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

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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 Lycoming County, PA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.