🫛 How to Grow Peas from Seed

Think of fresh, sweet, and succulent baby green peas. Now make them steaming hot, add a pat of butter, and scatter some freshly ground black pepper over the top. The result is a delicious dish that goes with a variety of meals! Because peas are a cool-weather crop, they thrive best in the spring and autumn.


  • Sow Outdoors Early April to mid-May (soil temp 10°C to 16°C)
  • Seed Depth 1.25 cm to 2.5 cm deep
  • Seed Spacing 6.5 cm apart
  • Double-Row Setup Rows 25 cm apart; space sets of double rows 75 cm apart
  • Block Setup 120 cm square blocks with seeds 6.5 cm apart
  • Succession Planting Every 10 to 14 days for extended harvests
  • Sun Requirement Full Sun ☀️

🧭 Step-by-Step Culture Guide

1. ⏰ Soil & Timing Preparation

  • Soil Type: Peas grow best in areas with full sun and deep, well-draining, organic soils with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. Add horticultural limestone to “sweeten” acidic soils before planting.

  • Timing: Sow from early April through to mid-May when the soil temperature is between 10°C and 16°C. In long-season areas, they can also be sown in mid-August for a late autumn crop.

  • Feeding: Avoid the use of high-nitrogen fertilizers, which promote leafy growth instead of flower and pod production.

2. 🌱 Planting Layout Options

  • Double-Row Method: Sow seeds 1.25 cm to 2.5 cm deep and 6.5 cm apart within the row. Place two rows close together (25 cm apart), then leave a wide walking space of 75 cm before starting the next set of double rows.

  • Block Method: Alternatively, sow peas in dense, 120 cm square blocks with the seeds spaced 6.5 cm apart evenly throughout the entire block.

  • Succession: Sow successive crops 10 to 14 days apart for an extended harvest season.

3. 🪜 Supports & Initial Watering

  • Moisture: Keep the soil evenly moist during the germination period, or plant emergence will be spotty and uneven.

  • Vine Support: Staking or supporting row-planted bush varieties makes picking much easier. Taller climbing varieties definitely require a sturdy trellis, netting, or fencing to grow properly.

4. 🧺 Watering & Harvesting

  • Critical Watering Window: Once flowering starts, it is absolutely important to keep the plants well-watered to produce a plump, heavy harvest.

  • Daily Picking: As the pods mature, pick them daily to enjoy their peak flavour and to encourage the plants to keep forming more pods.


View ‘How to Grow’ Guides for other vegetables here.

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