Blog

When to Plant Snow Peas in Crow Wing County, MN

Crow Wing County, Minnesota Zone 4a May

This month in Crow Wing County, Minnesota

Your Crow Wing County, Minnesota garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for May and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost May 5
Avg. first frost October 3
Soil temp (4") 48°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Plant out snow peas

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • Starting indoors: snow peas
  • First harvests: snow peas

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Crow Wing County, Minnesota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost is October 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 151 days.

At an elevation of 783 feet, Crow Wing County receives approximately 33.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 78°F, so choose short-season varieties of Snow Peas to ensure they mature before fall.

Crow Wing County, MN (Zone 4a) Moderate season
151 days
Last Spring Frost May 5
151 growing days
First Fall Frost October 3
Share this guide:

Crow Wing County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (40 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Aug 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (39 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Aug 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (36 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Sep 8

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 Crow Wing County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.0–6.7) is within Snow Peas's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.0%) — Snow Peas will thrive.

How to Plant Snow Peas

1"
Planting Depth
4"
Between Plants
18"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Snow Peas

3
successive plantings in your 151-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 30 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 11.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 103 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Snow Peas

Snow 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 Snow Peas Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Crow Wing County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Snow 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.

Snow Peas needs ~489 GDD — county provides 1,283 GDD Excellent fit

Snow Peas Planting Timeline — Crow Wing County, MN

Snow Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 24 Mar 24 – Apr 7
Transplant Outdoors May 5 May 5 – May 19
Direct Sow April 28 Apr 28 – May 19
Harvest June 30 Jun 30 – Aug 25
Fall Sowing July 11 Jul 11 – Jul 25

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 Harvest
September
October
November
December
Share this guide:

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

50–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

151 days in Crow Wing County

Growing Tips for Snow Peas in Crow Wing County

Direct sow Snow Peas outdoors after May 05 in Crow Wing County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Snow 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. 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Snow Peas in Crow Wing County, MN?

Crow Wing County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 5. Plan your Snow Peas planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Crow Wing County, MN?

Crow Wing County, Minnesota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 5 and first fall frost is October 3.

🌱

Your Crow Wing County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Crow Wing County (Zone 4a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Crow Wing County, MN. 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.