How to grow Peas in Australia
Sow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil, providing a trellis or netting for the tendrils to climb. Water consistently, especially while flowering and podding, but avoid soaking the foliage.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 5 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 10 cm
- Time to harvest: 75 days
- Time to germinate: 10 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to August | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to September | Slightly longer winter window than SEQ, especially inland. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | April to August | Extended cool-season window; May to August more reliable than SEQ baseline. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | March to August | Sow Mar to Aug (peak Apr to Jun). Melbourne's cool winter ideal for peas. Frost-hardy. |
| Adelaide & SA | March to August | Mediterranean: avoid sowing Sep to Feb. Peas thrive in cool winters; sow Mar to Aug. |
| Perth & WA | March to August | Hold the plain to April; warm March spells turn early sowings mildewy. Hills can start late March. Sow through August. |
| Tasmania | February, August to November | Sow Aug to Nov for the main crop and again in Feb for autumn picking. Plants take frost, flowers do not. A Tasmanian staple. |
| Canberra & ACT | March to August | Peas thrive in Canberra's cool season; sow Mar to Aug; frost-hardy; needs support; prolonged cool weather improves flavor. |
| North Queensland | May to August | Dry season only. Cool-season crop; sow May to Aug. Peas fail in wet season humidity. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to August | Dry season only. Cool-season crop; sow May to Aug. Peas fail in wet season humidity. |
Varieties
- Greenfeast
- Sugar Snap
- Snow Pea (Oregon)
- Telephone
- Massey (Dwarf)
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick when pods are plump and the peas show but before they harden. Hold the vine and snap pods off with the other hand, and daily picking keeps them podding.
Storage
Fridge in pods, up to 3 days. Blanch and freeze for months.