Mice and pigeons
Mice take the seed, especially from autumn and early sowings. Gardeners' World says to protect an October sowing from them. Cover the drill or the pots until the seedlings are through.
UK crop guide
Peas
Peas are a cool-season crop, and they are at their best the hour they are picked. The RHS splits them into first earlies, second earlies and maincrops, all sown between March and June, and ready in roughly 12 to 16 weeks depending on the type.
A February sowing under cover, or an October sowing of a hardy variety, stretches the season at either end. Mice are the pest to plan for on those early and late sowings.
- Sow in February, March, April, May, June and October. The main outdoor season is March to June. February works under cover. October is for a hardy sowing, protected from mice.
- Harvest in June, July, August, September and October. From June through to October if you sow more than one type or sow in succession.
Sow indoors
Sowing in guttering, pots or modules in February gives an earlier crop and keeps the seed away from mice and wet soil. Gardeners' World suggests pushing the seed in about 5cm deep. The RHS says the same depth for modules and tubes. Plant the seedlings out from March onwards, once they are growing strongly, and harden them off if they have been indoors rather than in a cold frame.
Sow or plant outdoors
The main season is March to June, once the soil is around 10°C. Sow a short row every few weeks, or sow an early and a maincrop variety on the same day. They will not all ripen together.
Taller varieties are sown 7.5cm apart in a single row, or in a double row with 30cm between the two lines. A wide gap between those double rows keeps the air moving, which matters because crowded peas get powdery mildew. The RHS also describes a flat trench 5cm deep and 15cm wide, sown as a staggered triple row. In a container at least 45cm wide, sow 7.5cm apart and 5cm deep.
Put supports in at sowing time, or as soon as the seedlings show. Netting, chicken wire or twiggy sticks all work. Gardeners' World lists an October sowing too, with protection from mice. That is a hardy extra, not a replacement for the spring sowings.
Spacing and depth
- Along the row
- About 7.5cm for taller varieties
- Depth
- About 5cm
- Supports
- Netting, wire or sticks, in place early
Harvest
By mixing types you can pick from June through to October. First earlies take about 12 weeks, second earlies 13 to 14, and maincrops 14 to 16. Pick often. Pods left on the plant tell it to stop flowering.
Pea shoots are a separate, quicker crop. The RHS says seed sown indoors at any time of year will give shoots for salads. Mangetout and sugar snaps are picked while the pod is still flat or just filling. Shelling peas want a filled pod and a tender pea inside.
Common problems
Powdery mildew
A white coating on the leaves is common late in the season and in dry weather. Wider spacing and airflow help. Water at the base in a dry spell so the plants are not stressed, and sow an earlier batch so you are not relying on September plants.
A glut of tough peas
They pass their best quickly. Pick every couple of days, and freeze what you cannot eat. Plants that are left unpicked stop producing.
What you'll need
Kit for this crop, based on the method above.
- Peat-free multi-purpose compost
For pots, modules and containers once seedlings need more body.
- Module trays or small pots
For crops started under cover. Deep pots suit peas, beans and sweetcorn.
- Canes or hazel poles
Runner beans need supports about 2.5m tall. Cordons of tomatoes need a cane or a string.
- Netting
Birds pull up new garlic and onion sets, and they take strawberries and sweetcorn.
- Horticultural fleece
For early sowings and for covering tender plants if a late frost is forecast.
- Labels
Variety and sowing date, so succession sowings do not get mixed up.
Common questions
How late can I sow peas?
The RHS main season runs to June. A June sowing of an early variety can still crop in autumn. After that you are into the October hardy sowing, which is for an overwintered or very early crop, not a quick summer one.
Do peas need a trench?
A single line works. The RHS also sows a triple row in a flat trench about 5cm deep and 15cm wide, with the seeds staggered. Either way, they need support and a bit of air between the rows.
On the calendar
Related crops
Sources
- RHS: How to grow peas. Checked 11 October 2026.
- BBC Gardeners' World: What to plant in February. Checked 11 October 2026.
- BBC Gardeners' World: Your seed-sowing year. Checked 11 October 2026.