Blog

When to Plant Peas in Divide County, ND

Peas
Divide County, North Dakota Zone 4a July

Divide County, North Dakota gardeners: here's your July plan

July is a pivotal month for Divide County, North Dakota gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost May 15
Avg. first frost September 20
Soil temp (4") 67°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 15.6 hrs
  1. Collect peas at their peak

    The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Letting fruit overripen tells the plant it's time to stop.

A few tasks this July that'll pay off in August
  • First harvests: peas

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Divide County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 994 feet, Divide County receives approximately 20.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 79°F, so choose short-season varieties of Peas to ensure they mature before fall.

Divide County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 20

Divide County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Peas Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 7 – Sep 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 10 – Sep 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (19 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 15 Transplant: May 27 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Sep 16

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 Divide County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.6) overlaps with Peas's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.9%). Annual compost additions will help Peas.

How to Plant 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 Peas

2
successive plantings in your 128-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 12 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jun 28.

Peas Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.0″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 37 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 — 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 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 2.8" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 1.3" 1.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3" 1.7" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3" 2.1" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3" 1.8" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Divide 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 ~578 GDD — county provides 1,184 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline — Divide County, ND

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 3 Apr 3 – Apr 17
Transplant Outdoors May 15 May 15 – May 29
Direct Sow May 8 May 8 – May 29
Harvest July 10 Jul 10 – Sep 4
Fall Sowing June 28 Jun 28 – Jul 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

128 days in Divide County

Growing Tips for Peas in Divide County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after May 15 in Divide 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 Divide County, ND?

Divide County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 15. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Divide County, ND?

Divide County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and first fall frost is September 20.

🌱

Your Divide County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Divide 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 Divide County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.