Crop profile

Pea crop profile

A cool-weather legume, best supported early and picked regularly for sweet, tender pods.

Italiano

Starting method

Direct sowing

Direct soil

4 °C

Transplant soil

not available

Night minimum

0 °C

Frost buffer

-20 days

Heat stop

27 °C

Harvest

55–75 days

Indoor lead

not available

Key temperatures

0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40 °C

Below 4 °CCold risk: slower growth or cold damage.
4 °CMinimum threshold to start direct sowing: 4 °C.
4–22 °CBest range for growth and production.
22–27 °CPerformance drops and plants move into stress.
Above 27 °CPause transplants: heat stress risk.

Pea cycle

1. Start
Method:
direct sowing
2. Direct sowing
Soil: at least 4 °C
Night minimum: at least 0 °C
3. Growth
Ideal temperatures 4–22 °C
Avoid peaks above 27 °C
4. Harvest
First harvest around:
55–75 days after sowing

How to start

Recommended method: direct sowing.
Prepare the bed when soil and nights are stable.
Sow when soil has reached at least 4 °C and nights stay above 0 °C.

Temperatures to respect

Direct-sowing soil: minimum 4 °C.
Night minimum: minimum 0 °C.
Heat stop: 27 °C.
Suggested frost buffer: -20 days.

Harvest timing

Cycle to first harvest: about 55–75 days.
Harvest gradually as produce reaches maturity.

Seasonal notes

Protect young plants from late frosts and thermal swings.
In summer, avoid water stress and heat peaks above 27 °C.
Steady growth improves development and harvest quality.

FAQ and sources

When should you sow peas?

Sow peas directly in cool soil, from about 4 °C, with nights close to 0 °C. They tolerate cold better than green beans and can be sown before the last frost. Heat above 27 °C reduces quality and pod set, so the main sowing windows are late winter, spring, and, where possible, autumn. Harvest usually comes after 55-75 days. Sow in rows and protect the seeds from birds and rodents.

Do peas need supports?

Yes. It is almost always worth giving peas a support. Even short varieties stay healthier when lifted off the ground, while tall varieties need netting, twigs, or canes. Support improves air, light, and picking. Install it right after sowing or while plants are small, so you do not damage roots later. If peas trail on the ground, pods get dirty, plants tangle, and mould and rot increase.

When should you harvest peas?

It depends on the type. Shelling peas are harvested when pods are full but still green and tender. Mangetout and snow peas are picked earlier, when the pod is flat or just formed. The usual cycle is 55-75 days, but harvest timing should be checked by sight. Pick often: overmature peas become floury and the plant stops making new flowers. Use two hands so you do not tear the vines.

Why do peas dry out early in spring?

Often, heat and lack of water arrive during flowering and pod filling. Pea is a cool-season crop: above 27 °C it stresses, produces less, and finishes quickly. Sow early, mulch, and water consistently when flowers appear. Avoid very exposed hot positions if sowing late in warm areas. If your local spring heats up fast, choose early varieties and make several close sowings at the start of the season.

Can peas be sown in autumn?

Yes. In many mild areas, peas have an autumn window. Autumn sowing uses cool weather and moisture, but it needs drainage and protection if hard frosts arrive. Choose suitable varieties and do not sow too late: plants need to establish before serious cold. In heavy soils, raised beds are better. Protect seeds from birds and mice, which in autumn can be a bigger problem than temperature.