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When to Plant Peas in Victoria County, TX

Victoria County, Texas Zone 9b May

Top priorities for Victoria County, Texas gardeners in May

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

Avg. last frost February 26
Avg. first frost November 28
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.4 hrs
  1. Collect peas at their peak

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

Get ahead of 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.

Victoria County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 26 and the first fall frost is November 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 275 days.

At an elevation of 3,908 feet, Victoria County receives approximately 57.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 101°F, so Peas may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Peas root diseases.

Victoria County, TX (Zone 9b) Year-round
275 days
Last Spring Frost February 26
275 growing days
First Fall Frost November 28
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Victoria County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (168 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 15 Transplant: Feb 12 🍅 Harvest: Apr 9 – Jun 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (163 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 29 Transplant: Feb 26 🍅 Harvest: Apr 23 – Jun 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (160 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jul 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 Victoria County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.4) is within Peas's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Peas.

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 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Peas

6
successive plantings in your 275-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 19 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Oct 03.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.0″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 93 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 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3" 2.1" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Mar 3" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 10" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 8.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 6.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 6.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 5.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3" 1.9" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Dec 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Nov in Victoria 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 ~1,609 GDD — county provides 7,107 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline — Victoria County, TX

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 29 Jan 29 – Feb 12
Transplant Outdoors February 26 Feb 26 – Mar 12
Direct Sow February 5 Feb 5 – Feb 26
Harvest April 23 Apr 23 – Jun 18
Fall Sowing October 3 Oct 3 – Oct 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
March Transplant Outdoors
April Harvest
May Harvest
June Harvest
July
August
September
October Fall Sowing
November
December
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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 9b

📆 Growing Season

275 days in Victoria County

Growing Tips for Peas in Victoria County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after February 26 in Victoria County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Summer highs in Victoria County reach 101°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 Victoria 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 Victoria County, TX?

Victoria County is in Zone 9b with an average last frost of February 26. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Victoria County, TX?

Victoria County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 26 and first fall frost is November 28.

🌱

Your Victoria County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Victoria County (Zone 9b). 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 Victoria County, TX. 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.