When to plant Peas in the UK

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
Sow indoors March to April, plant out April to May, harvest June to August.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow indoorsNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Plant outNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesNoNoNoNo

UK averages · set your town for dates worked out from your local frost records · how dates are worked out

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Dates for your town

Set your town to see planting windows worked out from local frost history, not a generic UK calendar.

Growing guide for the UK

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

    mid-March to early April UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Sow in guttering or deep modules around mid-March to early April. Space seeds about apart. Cover with of compost. Keep at until they germinate.

  2. 02

    Harden Off Seedlings

    early April to early May UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

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

  3. 03

    Transplant Outdoors

    mid-April to early May UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Slide the block into a shallow trench around mid-April to early May. Do not split the plants. Space rows apart. Water in. Put pea sticks or netting in at once.

  4. 04

    Protect from Pests

    mid-April to early July UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    From mid-April to early July, cover the row with mesh so pigeons cannot strip the shoots.

  5. 05

    Water and Feed

    early June to early August UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage Optional · repeat every 2 weeks

    From early June to early August, water once flowers appear. Keep the soil moist so the pods can swell.

  6. 06

    Harvest Peas

    mid-June to early August UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Pick pods regularly from mid-June through early August. 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.