How to grow peas
Frost-hardy · Legume family
When to sow and plant
- Sow outdoors 22 March – 5 April
Based on: average for Germany, last frost 19 April, safe from 6 May
Planting calendar for your areaWhere the dates come from
The weeks come from our sources; the dates use the average frost in Germany. Enter a German postcode to get dates for your area.
- Sow outdoors: 2–4 weeks before the last frost (Colorado State University Extension, GardenNotes #720: Vegetable Planting Guide)
Good and bad neighbours
Good neighbours · 2
White cabbage, Red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Kale, Kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, Pak choiExpert rule· C
Legumes fix nitrogen that cabbage can use – but it is only released once their roots rot.
C: Expert rule with a reason
White cabbageRed cabbageSavoy cabbageCauliflowerBroccoliBrussels sproutsKaleKohlrabiChinese cabbagePak choi
RadishExpert rule· C
Crop rotation
After the legume family, leave the bed free of it for at least 3 years (sources: 3–4 years).
- Peas: a 6-year break because of fusarium wilt (sources: 5–7 years).
- Example: grown here in 2026, again from 2033.
At a glance
- Family
- Legume family (Fabaceae)
- Nutrient needs
- Light feeder
- Frost
- Hardy, tolerates frost
- Spacing (row × plant)
- 30–61 × 3–5 cm (12–24 × 1–2 in)
- Plants per m²
- 111.1
- Per square foot (30 × 30 cm)
- 8 plants
- Life cycle
- Annual
- Harvest
- After 50–70 days from sowing
Spacing according to USU Extension: How to Grow Peas in Your Garden. Other sources: – × 7.5 cm (– × 3 in) (RHS: How to grow peas).
Questions and answers
When can I sow peas?
Sow outdoors, average for Germany: 22 March – 5 April. Enter a German postcode above for your area, or your own frost date in the planting calendar.
How far apart should I plant peas?
30–61 × 3–5 cm (12–24 × 1–2 in) (row × plant), according to USU Extension: How to Grow Peas in Your Garden.
What grows well next to peas?
White cabbage, Red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Kale, Kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, Pak choi: Good neighbour (C) and Radish: Good neighbour (C).
How long a break do peas need in the same bed?
After the legume family, leave the bed free of it for at least 3 years (sources: 3–4 years). Peas: a 6-year break because of fusarium wilt (sources: 5–7 years).
More from the legume family
Sources
Show 12 sources
- Südtiroler Bauernbund: Merkblatt Fruchtfolgen im Gemüsebau (Oktober 2022)
- Landwirtschaftskammer Schleswig-Holstein: Fruchtfolge im Garten (Gartenmerkblatt, 2020)
- University of Maryland Extension: Growing Green Peas in a Home Garden
- USU Extension: How to Grow Peas in Your Garden
- RHS: How to grow peas
- NYC Parks GreenThumb: Square Foot Gardening (Growing Veggies in NYC Training)
- Colorado State University Extension, GardenNotes #720: Vegetable Planting Guide
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (über die GBIF-API, species/match)
- Oregon State University Extension: Companion Planting (Guides for beginning gardeners, Juni 2021)
- RHS: Growing Your Own – The three sisters
- BUND: Mischkultur – Gute und schlechte Nachbarn (August 2026)
- Bayerische Gartenakademie (LWG): Merkblatt 2104 Mischkulturen im Gemüsegarten (Mai 2020)
Retrieved on 23 October 2026. Facts in our own words, one source per value.