How to grow Peas in Australia
Peas are a sweet, easy cool-season crop sown direct from autumn to late winter in most of Australia. Climbing types need a trellis; dwarf types need only a little support. Shelling peas, snow peas and sugar snaps are all grown the same way, and the more often you pick, the more pods you get.
📖 Our full guide: Growing Peas in Australia: How to Grow Garden Peas From Seed
At a glance
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 | Sow from March to August. Late March sowings suit the Hills; on the plain, wait until April, as warm March spells turn early sowings mildewy. |
| 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 flavour. |
| 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. |
Not to be confused with: Sweet pea, an ornamental flower whose seeds are poisonous, and Snow peas, flat-podded peas covered in their own guide.
Where to plant
Grow peas in full sun in well-drained soil, sheltered from strong wind, which snaps the fragile stems. Peas like soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. Test before liming: lime added to soil that is already alkaline stunts the plants. Add compost a month before sowing if the soil is poor, but no high-nitrogen fertiliser, as peas make their own nitrogen through nodules on their roots.
Do not grow peas in the same spot every year, and avoid mulching with low-quality pea straw, which can carry blackspot.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: sow from March to August, or September inland in the Northern Rivers.
- Sydney: sow from April to August; May to August sowings are the most reliable.
- Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth: sow from March to August, with April to June the peak. In Perth, wait until April on the plain, as warm March spells make early sowings mildewy.
- Hobart: sow from August to November for the main crop, and again in February for autumn picking.
- North Queensland and Darwin: sow in the dry season only, May to August. Peas fail in wet season humidity.
Choosing a variety
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Shelling (garden) peas | Picked when the peas inside are plump; shell before eating. Greenfeast is a classic tall Australian variety; Telephone is a tall heirloom with big pods |
| Sugar snap peas | Plump edible pods with sweet peas inside, eaten whole; climbers to about 2 m |
| Snow peas | Flat edible pods picked before the peas swell; see the snow peas guide |
| Dwarf peas | Bush types such as Massey, about 50 cm tall, for small beds and pots; they still like a little support |
How to plant
- Put up the trellis, netting or frame before sowing, so you do not disturb the seedlings later.
- Sow seed direct, 3 to 5 cm deep and 5 to 10 cm apart, along the base of the support. Dwarf peas can be sown in double rows about 8 cm apart.
- Water well at sowing, then do not water again until the shoots appear, unless the soil dries out. Seed rots in cold, wet soil.
- If nothing appears after two weeks, dig around: the seed may have rotted or been eaten by mice, so sow again.
- Peas dislike transplanting. If you must start them in containers, sow in egg cartons or single cells and plant the whole cell.
Watering and feeding
Once plants are up, keep the soil evenly moist, especially while flowering and podding. Water at the base and avoid wetting the leaves, which encourages mildew.
Feed lightly. Peas fix their own nitrogen, and too much nitrogen gives lush leaves at the expense of flowers and pods. A seaweed tonic every few weeks is enough.
Pruning and care through the year
- Guide young tendrils onto the support. If plants outgrow it, pinch out the tips.
- Protect seedlings and tips from slugs and snails.
- If frost is forecast when plants are flowering, cover them overnight; frost can damage flowers and pods.
- At the end of the season, cut the plants off at ground level and leave the roots in the soil to rot down.
Harvesting
Pick every two to three days. Shelling peas are ready when the pods are plump and the peas show, before they turn hard and starchy. Pick sugar snaps young, before they develop a string. Regular picking keeps plants producing.
Use secateurs or hold the vine with one hand while snapping pods off with the other, as pulling can break the fragile stems. The tender tips and flowers of garden peas are edible too. Fresh peas keep up to three days in the fridge in their pods; blanch and freeze extras.
Growing in pots
Dwarf peas grow well in a pot or trough at least 25 cm wide with a small trellis or a few twiggy sticks for support. Keep the mix moist once seedlings are up.
Using it
Eat freshly picked peas raw from the pod, or cook them briefly. They taste best picked close to eating. Sugar snaps and snow peas are eaten whole, raw or lightly stir fried.
Saving seed
Leave some pods on healthy plants until they are dry and papery, then shell and dry the seed and store it in a cool, dry place for sowing next season.
Companion planting
Peas are often grown with crops that use the space around them. The main rule is to keep them away from the onion family.
Good companions
- Carrot A slow root crop that uses the soil between pea rows without competing for the trellis.
- Radish A quick crop sown beside the peas and pulled long before the peas need the space.
- Corn In a rotation, peas sown before corn leave nitrogen-rich roots behind for the following summer crop.
- Cucumber A summer climber that can follow peas on the same trellis once the peas finish.
- Beans Fellow legumes that can share a rotation slot, though both should be moved to a new bed each year.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to peas.
Pests and diseases
Peas are easy in cool weather. Pests and mildew build up as the weather warms at the end of the season.
Pests to watch for
- Aphids Clusters of small green insects on tips and flowers, mostly late in the season.
- Pea weevil Small round holes in dried peas from weevil larvae feeding inside. Save seed only from clean peas.
- Slugs and snails (slugs and snails) Seedlings and tender tips chewed overnight, especially after rain.
Diseases to watch for
- Powdery mildew White powdery coating on leaves and pods, worst in warm, dry spells late in the season.
- Pea rust Orange-brown pustules on leaves and stems. Remove affected plants.
- Fusarium wilt Lower leaves yellow and plants wilt and die from the base up. Rotate beds.
- Blackspot Dark spots on leaves, stems and pods that spread fast in wet weather. Pull out and bin affected plants; do not compost them.
Common questions
When should I plant peas in Australia?
In the cool season. In most regions sow from March or April to August. In Hobart sow from August to November, and in the tropics only in the dry season, May to August.
Why didn't my peas come up?
Seed rots in cold, wet soil, and mice and birds dig it up. Water once at sowing and not again until shoots appear unless the soil dries out, and resow if nothing has emerged after two weeks.
Do peas need a trellis?
Climbing peas need a trellis, netting or a teepee up to about 2 m tall. Dwarf peas need only a low support, such as twiggy sticks pushed into the soil.
Why are my pea plants turning white?
That is usually powdery mildew, which comes as the weather warms at the end of the season. Water at the base, avoid sowing too early in warm areas, and choose mildew-resistant varieties.
How often should I pick peas?
Every two to three days once pods form. Regular picking keeps the peas tender and the plant producing.
Should I add lime for peas?
Only if a soil test shows your soil is acid. Peas like neutral to slightly alkaline soil, but liming soil that is already alkaline stunts them.
Do peas need fertiliser?
Very little. Peas make their own nitrogen through root nodules. Compost before sowing and a seaweed tonic every few weeks are enough; high-nitrogen fertiliser gives leaves instead of pods.
Sources we checked: Local Food Connect (Robin Gale-Baker): Growing perfect peas; RHS: How to grow peas.