How to Grow Peas in Raised Beds

How to Grow Peas

Peas are a spring and fall crop. They germinate in cool soil and quit when nights stay warm. A trellis along the north side of a bed is the usual raised-bed layout.

Key growing facts for Peas
Spacing	2–4 in in a row along a trellis
Soil	Loose, not overly rich in nitrogen
Sunlight	6+ hours; they tolerate cooler, shorter days
Planting depth	About 1 inch
Water	Even moisture; do not let the trellis row go dusty at bloom
Days to harvest	Often 50–70 days

Soil requirements

Peas do not need a heavy feeding. Compost-rich mix is enough.
Open-bottom beds help if spring soil is wet.

Watering

Keep the seedbed moist until germination, then water at the base.
Mulch after plants are up. Raised beds dry faster than in-ground pea rows.

Sunlight

Full sun in spring. Heat plus full sun in June ends the crop.

Planting

Sow as soon as the soil can be worked. Many US gardeners plant 4–6 weeks before the last frost.
Install netting or a panel at sowing. Wrestling vines onto a late trellis breaks stems.

Spacing

2–4 inches in a double row along the trellis, or a dense band 6 inches wide.

Common problems

Powdery mildew
Common as weather warms. Airflow and resistant varieties delay it; harvest what you can.
Poor germination
Seed sitting in cold mud, or old seed. Peas are not a heat-soil crop.

Helpful tools

Netting or cattle-panel trellis

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Frequently asked questions

Can I grow peas in summer?

In most of the US, no. Try a fall sowing 8–10 weeks before frost, or stick to spring.