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When to Plant Snap Peas in Linn County, KS

Linn County, Kansas Zone 6b May

This month in Linn County, Kansas

Here's what deserves your attention in Linn County, Kansas this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 6b and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost April 9
Avg. first frost October 25
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
Get ahead of June
  • Starting indoors: snap peas
  • First harvests: snap peas

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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.

Linn 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 434 feet, Linn County receives approximately 33 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Snap Peas during the growing season.

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

Linn County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (70 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Aug 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (73 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (71 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 26

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 Linn County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.2) is within Snap Peas's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.7%). 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

4
successive plantings in your 199-day season

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 7 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 2.6" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 2.3" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Linn County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — 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.

Snap Peas needs ~906 GDD — county provides 2,885 GDD Excellent fit

Snap Peas Planting Timeline — Linn County, KS

Snap Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 12 Feb 12 – Feb 26
Transplant Outdoors April 23 Apr 23 – May 7
Direct Sow April 16 Apr 16 – May 7
Harvest June 18 Jun 18 – Aug 13

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
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 Linn County

Growing Tips for Snap Peas in Linn County

Direct sow Snap Peas outdoors after April 09 in Linn 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 Linn County, KS?

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

What planting zone is Linn County, KS?

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

🌱

Your Linn County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Linn 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 Linn 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.