How to Grow Peas in Australia
Updated June 2026
Shelling peas, snow peas, and sugar snaps with planting calendars for every region
Peas are the best winter crop for beginners. They're quick, productive, and almost impossible to mess up. Every pea plant also fixes nitrogen in the soil, leaving it in better shape for whatever you grow next.
Kids love picking and eating peas straight off the vine. There's no better way to get them interested in the garden. This guide covers the best varieties, planting times for your region, trellising, and how to keep the harvest going.
What it looks like as it grows
Succession Sowing Planner
Peas reward a steady drip of sowings far more than one big planting. Choose your climate and pea type and the planner gives you the sowing window, the cadence to keep picking, spacing, and whether you need a trellis.
Position and Soil
Peas want a sunny, open spot with free-draining soil. As legumes, they make their own nitrogen with the help of soil bacteria on their roots, so they do not need a rich bed. Heavy feeding with nitrogen gives you lots of leaf and few pods.
Dig the bed over and work in a little compost. A light dusting of garden lime before sowing helps if your soil is acidic, since peas prefer a near-neutral pH. Good drainage matters most: pea seeds rot quickly in cold, waterlogged ground.
Sowing
Peas are always sown direct where they are to grow. They resent transplanting and rarely recover from root disturbance. Sow seeds 3 to 5 cm deep and about 5 cm apart, with rows 45 to 60 cm apart. Press the soil down firmly so the seed makes good contact, then water gently.
Peas are a cool-season crop. In temperate regions sow from March to September, in cool zones from autumn through early spring, and in subtropical areas through autumn and winter only. Tropical lowlands suit only a short, marginal winter window. The key to a long harvest is succession: sow a fresh short row every 2 to 3 weeks through your window rather than one big planting.
Spacing
Sow seeds about 5 cm apart in the row, with 45 to 60 cm between rows so air moves freely and you can reach in to pick. Dwarf shelling peas hold themselves up in a block, while climbing types are grown along a trellis line. The planner above confirms the figures for your chosen type.
Watering and Feeding
Water regularly, especially once plants start to flower. Consistent moisture at flowering is the single biggest factor in a good pod set; dry spells cause flowers to drop. Water at the base in the morning rather than over the leaves.
Do not feed peas with nitrogen. They capture their own from the air through a partnership with soil bacteria, and added nitrogen reduces this and drives leaf at the expense of pods. Mulch around the base, ideally with pea straw, to keep the roots cool and the soil evenly moist.
Trellising
Dwarf shelling varieties like Greenfeast are self-supporting and grow to about 60 cm. Climbing varieties (most snow peas, sugar snaps, and tall shelling peas like Telephone) need a trellis 1.5 to 2 metres tall. Any of these work:
- Chicken wire: Stretch between two posts. Peas grab on with tendrils and climb easily.
- String trellis: Run vertical strings from a top rail. Cheap and effective.
- Sticks and branches: Push twiggy branches into the soil along the row. Free and natural.
Common Problems
Powdery mildew
A white powdery coating on leaves, usually late in the season as the weather warms. Improve airflow by spacing plants well and avoid overcrowding. Sow early so you harvest before the warm weather sets in.
Aphids
Clusters of small green or black aphids gather on the growing tips. A strong blast of water from the hose knocks them off; repeat every few days if they return. Ladybirds are excellent natural predators.
Poor germination
Pea seeds rot in soil that is too wet and cold. Let the soil dry slightly before sowing and avoid heavy watering straight after. If seeds fail to emerge after two weeks, resow.
Harvest
Pick peas regularly to keep the plant producing. Old pods left on the vine signal it to stop flowering. Use two hands: hold the stem with one and pull the pod with the other, as pea stems are brittle and snap easily.
- Shelling peas: Pick when pods are plump and you can feel the round peas inside. Pods should be bright green and firm.
- Snow peas: Pick when pods are flat and young, before the peas fill out. Overgrown snow peas turn tough and stringy.
- Sugar snaps: Pick when pods are full and rounded but still crisp and bright green. They should snap cleanly when bent.
Varieties
| Variety | Type | Days to harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenfeast | Shelling (dwarf) | 65 to 80 | Australia's most popular shelling pea. Self-supporting to about 60 cm, heavy cropper, sweet. No trellis needed. |
| Massey Gem | Shelling (dwarf) | 60 to 75 | Reliable compact early pea. Good for small beds and pots. Sweet, tender peas. |
| Telephone (Alderman) | Shelling (climbing) | 75 to 90 | Tall climber to 1.5 to 2 m. Large, well-flavoured pods. Needs a strong trellis. |
| Oregon Giant | Snow pea (climbing) | 65 to 75 | Flat edible pods picked before the peas fill. Very productive. A stir-fry staple. |
| Melting Mammoth | Snow pea (climbing) | 65 to 80 | Long, tender, sweet flat pods. Vigorous climber, needs a trellis. |
| Sugar Snap | Sugar snap (climbing) | 65 to 80 | Thick-walled edible pods, eaten whole. Climbs to about 1.5 m. Best picked young and crisp. |
Track Your Pea Growing
Add peas to your garden in the Planting Season app and get reminders for each succession sowing and for harvest time.
Open the App →Frequently Asked Questions
When to plant peas in Australia?
Peas are a cool-season crop. In temperate regions, sow from March to September. Cool zones can run autumn to early spring. Subtropical areas should sow in the cooler dry season (autumn and winter), and tropical lowlands suit only a short, marginal winter window. Sow a fresh short row every 2 to 3 weeks through the window for a steady supply.
Do peas need a trellis?
Dwarf shelling varieties like Greenfeast are self-supporting and need no trellis. Climbing varieties like Telephone, snow peas, and sugar snaps need a trellis 1.5 to 2 metres tall. Chicken wire, string, or twiggy sticks all work well.
How long do peas take to grow?
Most peas are ready 9 to 11 weeks after sowing. Dwarf bush types like Greenfeast tend to be slightly faster. Regular picking encourages the plant to keep producing.
How do I get a steady supply of peas?
Sow a fresh short row every 2 to 3 weeks right through your cool-season window rather than one big planting. By the time one row slows down, the next is coming on, so you pick steadily for months instead of getting one short glut.
How far apart should I sow peas?
Sow seeds about 5 cm apart in the row and 3 to 5 cm deep, with rows 45 to 60 cm apart. Peas are sown direct and resent transplanting, so put them straight where they are to grow.
Can I grow peas in summer?
Peas struggle in hot weather. Temperatures above 25 to 30 degrees cause flowers to drop and plants to stop producing. Stick to autumn, winter, and early spring sowings for the best results.
See also: Peas in the Plant Library
