When to plant Peas in Nottingham

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

Calibrated to Nottingham · average last frost around 20 Apr

Sow indoors March, plant out April, harvest June to July. Typical frost risk November to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow indoorsNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Plant outNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNo

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

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

    6 Mar to 21 Mar

    Sow in guttering or deep modules around 6th March - 21st March. Space seeds about apart. Cover with of compost. Keep at until they germinate.

  2. 02

    Harden Off Seedlings

    27 Mar to 18 Apr Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Harden seedlings off over 7 to 10 days, from 27th March. Start with a few hours in a sheltered spot.

  3. 03

    Transplant Outdoors

    6 Apr to 20 Apr

    Slide the block into a shallow trench around 6th April - 20th April. Do not split the plants. Space rows apart. Water in. Put pea sticks or netting in at once.

  4. 04

    Protect from Pests

    6 Apr to 19 Jun Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    From 6th April to 19th June, cover the row with mesh so pigeons cannot strip the shoots.

  5. 05

    Water and Feed

    21 May to 19 Jul Dates as each sowing reaches this stage Optional · repeat every 2 weeks

    From 21st May to 19th July, water once flowers appear. Keep the soil moist so the pods can swell.

  6. 06

    Harvest Peas

    5 Jun to 19 Jul Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Pick pods regularly from 5th June through 19th 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.