Grow Peas from Seed

Peas are a rewarding cool-season crop that is easy to grow from seed. Pea seeds can be direct sown into the garden and grow best in cool, moist soil. Before planting, you can soak pea seeds briefly to help encourage even germination. Keep the soil consistently moist while the seeds are germinating to encourage quick, healthy growth.

Peas are especially well suited to Southern California Zones 9 and 10, where they can be planted during the cooler months. On our farm, we plant peas in the fall and allow them to climb our trellises throughout the winter and spring. With proper timing and care, pea plants can produce abundant harvests over an extended season.

Types of Peas

When choosing pea seeds, consider how you want to enjoy your harvest. Different types of peas are grown for their pods, seeds, or both.

• Shelling Peas – Grown for the sweet, tender peas inside the pod. The mature peas are removed from the pod before eating.
• Snow Peas – Harvested while the pods are young and flat. Both the pod and peas are eaten.
• Sugar Snap Peas – Produce crisp, juicy pods containing plump, sweet peas. The entire pod can be eaten fresh or cooked.

Growing several types of peas can give you a variety of textures and flavors to enjoy throughout the cool season.

When to Plant Peas

Peas are a cool-season vegetable and perform best when temperatures are mild. In Zones 9 and 10, plant pea seeds during the cooler months of the year. In areas with mild winters, peas can often be overwintered and harvested throughout winter and spring.

In warmer climates, apply a thick layer of mulch around pea plants to help retain soil moisture and keep the roots cooler. Protect plants from extreme heat, and in areas prone to frost, use row covers when necessary.

How to Grow Peas

Peas grow best in full sun and consistently moist, fertile soil. Most pea varieties benefit from a trellis, fence, or other support structure that allows the vines to climb. Providing support keeps plants upright, improves airflow, makes harvesting easier, and helps maximize your garden space.

Peas are an excellent crop for vegetable gardens, children's gardens, small-space gardens, and even ornamental gardens. Their delicate flowers are beautiful in the garden, while the edible pods and peas provide a delicious harvest.

A Garden Crop with a Fascinating History

Peas are one of the oldest cultivated crops and have played an important role in agricultural history. In the mid-1800s, Gregor Mendel famously used pea plants in his experiments on heredity, helping establish the basic principles that became the foundation of modern genetics.

Today, peas remain one of our favorite crops because they are beautiful, productive, and incredibly rewarding to grow.

Explore our selection of high-quality pea seeds and start growing fresh peas in your garden this season.