Blog

When to Plant Peas in Millard County, UT

Millard County, Utah Zone 6a May

What to do in May

Your Millard County, Utah 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 16
Avg. first frost September 30
Soil temp (4") 38°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Move peas from tray to bed

    Frost risk is low now in Millard County, Utah. If you've been covering beds overnight, you can stop.

  2. Outdoor sowing time: peas

    Your soil is 38°F — warm enough for these to germinate without babying.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • Starting indoors: 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.

Millard County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost is September 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 6,525 feet, Millard County receives approximately 24 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Peas to ensure they mature before fall.

Millard County, UT (Zone 6a) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 16
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 30

Millard County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (25 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Aug 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (25 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 11 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Sep 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (19 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 5 Transplant: Jun 9 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Sep 29

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 Millard County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–8.0) overlaps with Peas's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). 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 137-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 22 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 22.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/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 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 2.7" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 1.7" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Jul 3" 2.1" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3" 2.2" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3" 2" 1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Millard 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 ~812 GDD — county provides 1,781 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline — Millard County, UT

Peas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 11 Apr 11 – Apr 25
Transplant Outdoors May 16 May 16 – May 30
Direct Sow May 2 May 2 – May 23
Harvest July 11 Jul 11 – Sep 5
Fall Sowing July 22 Jul 22 – Aug 5

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
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Harvest
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 6a

📆 Growing Season

137 days in Millard County

Growing Tips for Peas in Millard County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after May 16 in Millard 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 Millard County, UT?

Millard County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 16. Plan your Peas planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Millard County, UT?

Millard County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 16 and first fall frost is September 30.

🌱

Your Millard County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Millard County (Zone 6a). 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 Millard County, UT. 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.