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When to Plant Peas in Yadkin County, NC

Yadkin County, North Carolina Zone 7b May

What to do in May

Each item below is timed to Yadkin County, North Carolina's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 11
Avg. first frost October 22
Soil temp (4") 67°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Sow peas in trays indoors

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

Looking ahead to June
  • 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.

Yadkin County, North Carolina is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 194 days.

At an elevation of 638 feet, Yadkin County receives approximately 53.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Peas during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Peas, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Peas root diseases.

Yadkin County, NC (Zone 7b) Moderate season
194 days
Last Spring Frost April 11
194 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Yadkin County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (82 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 2 – Jul 28
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (82 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Aug 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (77 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Aug 21

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 Yadkin County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–6.4) overlaps with Peas's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). 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

4
successive plantings in your 194-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 13 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 13.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/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 5.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 6.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 4.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Yadkin 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 ~1,188 GDD — county provides 3,686 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline — Yadkin County, NC

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 7 Mar 7 – Mar 21
Transplant Outdoors April 11 Apr 11 – Apr 25
Direct Sow March 28 Mar 28 – Apr 18
Harvest June 6 Jun 6 – Aug 1
Fall Sowing August 13 Aug 13 – Aug 27

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 Harvest
September
October
November
December

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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

194 days in Yadkin County

Growing Tips for Peas in Yadkin County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after April 11 in Yadkin County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With Yadkin County's clay soil (29% clay), work in 3-4 inches of compost before planting Peas. Avoid tilling when soil is wet to prevent compaction.

Summer highs in Yadkin County reach 92°F — grow Peas as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

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 Yadkin 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 Yadkin County, NC?

Yadkin County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 11. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Yadkin County, NC?

Yadkin County, North Carolina is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 11 and first fall frost is October 22.

🌱

Your Yadkin County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Yadkin County (Zone 7b). 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 Yadkin County, NC. 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.