When to Plant Fall Peas in Ohio

Schedule

• Pea plants prefer cooler weather and can tolerate light spring frosts, so you can typically get seeds into the garden by early to mid-March. Planting peas in early spring to allow for a June harvest keeps them from fighting the summer heat of July and August. For a fall harvest, keep pea seedlings watered and partially shaded when planting in mid- to late summer, because direct sunlight and high temperatures can cause heat stress to the plants. The amount of water needed depends on how dry the soil is -- monitor your garden daily. Because pea plants mature in 60 to 80 days, depending on variety, fruits must be harvested before the first hard frost of the season. Depending on location, Ohio's average "first fall frost" dates are within the first three weeks of October.

Varieties

• Peas grow and mature at different times, depending on variety, climate and temperature. Recommended cultivars for Ohio gardens include "Green Arrow" (Pisum sativum "Green Arrow") -- a hardy English heirloom pea plant that thrives in temperatures of 45 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit; "Frosty" (Pisum sativum "Frosty"), a bushy plant suitable for large gardens; "Knight" (Pisum sativum "Knight"), which, similar to other cultivars, tolerates light frost and requires at least six hours of daily sunlight; and "Freezonian" (Pisum sativum "Freezonian"). These annuals grow into hardy vines and produce green peas for fresh eating, soups and salads. "Wando" (Pisum sativum "Wando") and "Alderman" (Pisum sativum "Alderman") are solid late-season pea cultivars. Snow and Sugar Snap peas are also suitable for Ohio gardens.

Soil and Planting

• In Ohio gardens, peas grow best in well-draining, organic soil with pH of 6.0 to 6.8. Place seeds, seedlings or young plants about 1 inch apart and 1 to 2 inches deep. Thinning out excess sprouts helps supporting vines and bushes grow thicker as the plant matures. The actual amount of time for a pea plant to mature depends on its cultivar, but pods and seed color usually become light to dark green. Firmly set, rounded peas in green pods are ready for harvest. Light frosts should not severely damage cold-season crops, if you plant pea seeds in July or August for a fall harvest. They can survive temperatures at around 28 degrees Fahrenheit, but prolonged temperatures below 32 degrees F will kill the plant.

Care

• Container-germinated pea seedlings can be transplanted, but placing seeds directly into the garden allows fast-spreading roots to grow deeply into the ground. Give pea plants 1 inch of water once a week, but water more often in hot, dry weather -- especially when planting in the summer for a fall harvest. Plants that are blooming and producing pods in late summer may need daily watering. Adding commercial fertilizers to the soil allows plants to absorb needed nutrients. Organic fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are less apt to burn plants, advises Ohio State University Extension, especially in the late summer.