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When to Plant Peas in Juneau City and Borough, AK

Juneau City and Borough, Alaska Zone 7a May

May in the garden — Juneau City and Borough, Alaska

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Juneau City and Borough, Alaska.

Avg. last frost May 3
Avg. first frost October 2
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 16.5 hrs
  1. Move peas into the garden

    Water the tray well an hour before you transplant. Roots slide out cleanly and settle in faster.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • Starting indoors: peas
  • First harvests: peas

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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.

Juneau City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost is October 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 152 days.

At an elevation of 930 feet, Juneau City and Borough receives approximately 35.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 57°F, so choose short-season varieties of Peas to ensure they mature before fall.

Juneau City and Borough, AK (Zone 7a) Moderate season
152 days
Last Spring Frost May 3
152 growing days
First Fall Frost October 2
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Juneau City and Borough Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.1-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (45 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Aug 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (40 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Aug 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (47 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 12 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Sep 6

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 Juneau City and Borough

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.1–6.5) is more acidic than Peas prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Juneau City and Borough is excellent for Peas — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (6.7%) — Peas will thrive.

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

3
successive plantings in your 152-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 24 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 24.

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

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 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 1.6" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 6.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Juneau City and Borough). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — every day above 50°F 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 ~0 GDD — county provides 0 GDD May not mature

Peas Planting Timeline — Juneau City and Borough, AK

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 12
Transplant Outdoors May 3 May 3 – May 17
Direct Sow April 19 Apr 19 – May 10
Harvest June 28 Jun 28 – Aug 23
Fall Sowing July 24 Jul 24 – Aug 7

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

55–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

152 days in Juneau City and Borough

Growing Tips for Peas in Juneau City and Borough

Direct sow Peas outdoors after May 03 in Juneau City and Borough when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 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 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Very easy to save. Self-pollinating means varieties stay true.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Peas in Juneau City and Borough, AK?

Juneau City and Borough is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of May 3. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Juneau City and Borough, AK?

Juneau City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and first fall frost is October 2.

🌱

Your Juneau City and Borough Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Juneau City and Borough (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Juneau City and Borough, AK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.