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When to Plant Peas in Greenwood County, KS

Greenwood County, Kansas Zone 6b May

Top priorities for Greenwood County, Kansas gardeners in May

May is a pivotal month for Greenwood County, Kansas gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost April 9
Avg. first frost October 25
Soil temp (4") 63°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Start peas under lights

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • 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.

Greenwood County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 199 days.

At an elevation of 595 feet, Greenwood County receives approximately 26 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 87°F, providing good warmth for Peas during the growing season.

Greenwood County, KS (Zone 6b) Moderate season
199 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
199 growing days
First Fall Frost October 25

Greenwood County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (85 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Jul 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (87 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Jul 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (89 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Aug 12

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 Greenwood County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.2) is within Peas's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Greenwood County is excellent for Peas — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) — 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

4
successive plantings in your 199-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 16 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 16.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 321 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 2.7" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
May 3" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 2.5" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 1.6" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Greenwood County). 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 ~953 GDD — county provides 3,034 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline — Greenwood County, KS

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 – Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors April 9 Apr 9 – Apr 23
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 – Apr 16
Harvest June 4 Jun 4 – Jul 30
Fall Sowing August 16 Aug 16 – Aug 30

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

55–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

199 days in Greenwood County

Growing Tips for Peas in Greenwood County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after April 09 in Greenwood County 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.

Recommended Peas Varieties for Greenwood County

Heat-tolerant peas — plant very early or as fall crop

Wando (68d) Oregon Sugar Pod (60d)

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 Greenwood County, KS?

Greenwood County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Greenwood County, KS?

Greenwood County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 25.

🌱

Your Greenwood County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Greenwood County (Zone 6b). 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 Greenwood County, KS. 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.