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When to Plant Snow Peas in Goshen County, WY

Goshen County, Wyoming Zone 5a May

What to do in May

May is a pivotal month for Goshen County, Wyoming 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 September 29
Soil temp (4") 40°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.4 hrs
  1. Move snow peas into the garden

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • Starting indoors: snow peas

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Snow peas are a flat-podded pea variety eaten whole when the seeds inside are still tiny. They are essential in Asian stir-fries and have a delicate, sweet flavor.

Goshen County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 139 days.

At an elevation of 5,820 feet, Goshen County receives approximately 15.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Snow Peas to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Snow Peas successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Goshen County, WY (Zone 5a) Short season
139 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
139 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Goshen County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (22 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (27 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Sep 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (25 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 19 Transplant: May 24 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Sep 13

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 Goshen County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–8.4) is more alkaline than Snow Peas prefers (6.0–7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). Annual compost additions will help Snow Peas.

How to Plant Snow 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 Snow Peas

3
successive plantings in your 139-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 26 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 21.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 780 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Snow Peas

Snow Peas needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Snow Peas Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.1" 3.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1.3" 3" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.1" 3.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Goshen County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Snow 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.

Snow Peas needs ~748 GDD — county provides 1,807 GDD Excellent fit

Snow Peas Planting Timeline — Goshen County, WY

Snow 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 21 Jul 21 – Aug 4

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

50–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

139 days in Goshen County

Growing Tips for Snow Peas in Goshen County

Direct sow Snow Peas outdoors after May 13 in Goshen County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Snow Peas in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Goshen County receives only 16" of rain annually. Snow Peas needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Direct sow in early spring. Pick pods frequently when they are flat and tender for best flavor. Provide support for climbing varieties.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Snow Peas in Goshen County, WY?

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

What planting zone is Goshen County, WY?

Goshen County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is September 29.

🌱

Your Goshen County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Goshen County (Zone 5a). 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 Goshen County, WY. 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.