When to plant peas in Georgia

Planting dates

For Middle Georgia, UGA lists garden peas from January 15 to February 15. It lists southern peas from April 1 to August 1. These are separate crop windows. Do not move a garden-pea date into summer or use the southern-pea period for an English pea.

Your region

UGA says North Georgia spring planting is about 2 weeks later and fall planting about 2 weeks earlier than the Middle Georgia baseline. South Georgia can be about 2 weeks earlier in spring and somewhat later in fall. Those directions do not create a precise county schedule for either pea type.

Read the packet first

Garden peas are also called English or green peas and fit a cool-season plan. Southern peas include cowpea types such as black-eyed, crowder and cream peas, and fit the warm-season window. The crop name on the packet is the first decision, not a detail to sort out after planting.

How to plant

UGA lists garden peas at 1 inch apart in rows 2½ feet apart. Southern peas are listed 4 to 6 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. Both entries use a 1½-to-2-inch planting depth. Mark the row with the pea type and sowing date so the two plans do not get mixed.

Keep garden peas cool

UGA describes garden peas as a January-to-March crop for Georgia and notes that cold weather can damage young blooms. Use the early window to plan the season, then check conditions at your garden before sowing.

Choose your next step

Planting questions