When to plant Peas in York

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 York · average last frost around 26 Apr

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

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

    12 Mar to 27 Mar

    Sow in guttering or deep modules around 12th March - 27th March. Space seeds about apart. Cover with of compost. Keep at until they germinate.

  2. 02

    Harden Off Seedlings

    2 Apr to 24 Apr Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Harden seedlings off over 7 to 10 days, from 2nd April. Start with a few hours in a sheltered spot.

  3. 03

    Transplant Outdoors

    12 Apr to 26 Apr

    Slide the block into a shallow trench around 12th April - 26th April. Do not split the plants. Space rows apart. Water in. Put pea sticks or netting in at once.

  4. 04

    Protect from Pests

    12 Apr to 25 Jun Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    From 12th April to 25th June, cover the row with mesh so pigeons cannot strip the shoots.

  5. 05

    Water and Feed

    27 May to 25 Jul Dates as each sowing reaches this stage Optional · repeat every 2 weeks

    From 27th May to 25th July, water once flowers appear. Keep the soil moist so the pods can swell.

  6. 06

    Harvest Peas

    11 Jun to 25 Jul Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Pick pods regularly from 11th June through 25th 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.