When to plant Peas in London

Pisum sativum

Pea
Pea · Pisum sativum

A cool-season crop grown for sweet pods or shelling peas. Sow in spring. Give plants support, and protect seed from mice and pigeons.

100 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water

Add to garden

Calibrated to London · average last frost around 4 Apr

Sow indoors February to March, plant out March to April, harvest May to July. Typical frost risk November to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow indoorsNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Plant outNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNo

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Growing guide for

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

Start peas in guttering or deep modules to keep mice off the seed, then slide them out as a block.

  1. 01

    Sow Seeds Indoors

    18 Feb to 5 Mar

    Sow in guttering or deep modules around 18th February - 5th March. Space seeds about apart. Cover with of compost. Keep at until they germinate.

  2. 02

    Harden Off Seedlings

    11 Mar to 2 Apr Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Harden seedlings off over 7 to 10 days, from 11th March. Start with a few hours in a sheltered spot.

  3. 03

    Transplant Outdoors

    21 Mar to 4 Apr

    Slide the block into a shallow trench around 21st March - 4th April. Do not split the plants. Space rows apart. Water in. Put pea sticks or netting in at once.

  4. 04

    Protect from Pests

    21 Mar to 3 Jun Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    From 21st March to 3rd June, cover the row with mesh so pigeons cannot strip the shoots.

  5. 05

    Water and Feed

    5 May to 3 Jul Dates as each sowing reaches this stage Optional · repeat every 2 weeks

    From 5th May to 3rd July, water once flowers appear. Keep the soil moist so the pods can swell.

  6. 06

    Harvest Peas

    20 May to 3 Jul Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Pick pods regularly from 20th May through 3rd July. Harvest garden peas when the pods are swollen. Pick mangetout while the pods are still flat.

Suggested varieties

Popular varieties of Pea to consider

Kelvedon Wonder

A reliable early garden pea with sweet, small pods. It's resistant to mildew and good for cooler UK springs.

Oregon Sugar Pod

A mangetout variety with flat, tender pods that are best harvested young. It's vigorous and suits direct sowing.

Sugar Snap

A dual-purpose pea with edible pods that swell like garden peas. It's crunchy and sweet, needing regular picking.

Pea guides by town

See how Pea timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.