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When to Plant Peas in Logan County, NE

Logan County, Nebraska Zone 5b May

What to do in May

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

Avg. last frost May 13
Avg. first frost October 2
Soil temp (4") 54°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Time to transplant peas

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

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • Starting indoors: 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.

Logan County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is October 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 142 days.

At an elevation of 854 feet, Logan County receives approximately 30.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Peas to ensure they mature before fall.

Logan County, NE (Zone 5b) Short season
142 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
142 growing days
First Fall Frost October 2
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Logan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (29 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Aug 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (30 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Sep 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (32 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 17 Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 17 – Sep 11

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 Logan County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8–7.2) is within Peas's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.5%). Annual compost additions will help Peas.

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

2
successive plantings in your 142-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
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — 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 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 2.1" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Jul 3" 2.6" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3" 3.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 2.5" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 2.6" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Logan 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 ~719 GDD — county provides 1,633 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline — Logan County, NE

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 8 Apr 8 – Apr 22
Transplant Outdoors May 13 May 13 – May 27
Direct Sow April 29 Apr 29 – May 20
Harvest July 8 Jul 8 – Sep 2
Fall Sowing July 24 Jul 24 – Aug 7

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Harvest
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: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

142 days in Logan County

Growing Tips for Peas in Logan County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after May 13 in Logan 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.

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 Logan County, NE?

Logan County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Logan County, NE?

Logan County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is October 2.

🌱

Your Logan County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Logan County (Zone 5b). 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 Logan County, NE. 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.