Last Updated on February 26, 2026 by Homegrown Florida
Growing Peas in Florida might not be the first crop you think of, but they’re actually a perfect fit for our cooler months. Whether you’re aiming for fresh snap peas to snack on straight from the garden or looking to grow shelling peas for cooking, this guide will help you get the most out of your pea plants. Florida’s climate has its challenges, but with a little timing and care, you can enjoy a healthy, productive pea harvest.
There are actually four types of peas you might hear about: shelling peas, snap peas, snow peas, and cowpeas. Cowpeas, also known as black-eyed peas, are warm-season crops and behave much more like beans. In this guide, we’ll focus on the three cool-weather peas that thrive in Florida’s winter months: shelling, snap, and snow peas.
Let’s explore how to plant, grow, and harvest peas right here in the Sunshine State.
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Table of Contents
Types of Peas: Shelling Peas vs. Snap Peas
Before we get into the details of planting, it’s important to know what type of peas you’re working with. There are three cool-season varieties you’ll most commonly grow in Florida: shelling peas, snap peas, and snow peas.
- Shelling Peas: These peas are grown for the seeds inside the pod, which means you don’t eat the pod itself. Once the peas are fully grown, you’ll shell them and discard the outer pod. Shelling peas are often used in cooked dishes, where their sweet, tender peas can shine.
- Snow or Snap Peas: With snow and snap peas, you get the best of both worlds—the whole pod is edible, so there’s no need for shelling. Snap peas have thick, rounded pods with visible peas inside. Snow peas are flatter, and you harvest them while the peas inside are still very small and immature. Both are excellent for fresh eating, stir-fries, and salads.
For this guide, we’ll focus mainly on snap peas, but many of the same principles apply to all three types.
Ideal Conditions for Growing Peas in Florida
Now, here’s the first thing to know about growing peas in Florida: they thrive in cool weather. Peas love temperatures that are consistently in the 50s and 60s at night, which makes the cooler months of late fall, winter, and early spring the ideal time to plant them.
For Florida gardeners, peas can generally be planted between October and February, with November through February being the most reliable window for most areas of the state. South Florida gardeners will have the best success planting earlier in the season, while North Florida gardeners may be able to stretch plantings slightly later thanks to longer periods of cool weather.
Unlike crops that can handle the sweltering Florida summer, peas will struggle when the temperatures start to rise, so timing is everything. The good news is that growing peas in Florida are surprisingly cold tolerant. Even when temperatures dip below freezing, many pea plants will bounce back once the weather warms again.
If you’ve ever tried planting peas too late in the season and wondered why they didn’t produce well, heat could be the culprit. Starting them in the cooler months ensures a longer growing window and a healthier harvest.
How to Plant Peas in Florida
When it comes to growing peas in Florida, the process is pretty straightforward. Growing peas in Florida are best started by direct sowing, meaning you plant the seeds directly in the garden. They don’t transplant well because their delicate root systems don’t like to be disturbed.
Here’s how to plant them:
- Direct: Plant your pea seeds directly in the garden instead of trays or containers.
- Depth: Plant your pea seeds about an inch deep, or roughly up to your first knuckle.
- Spacing: Space the seeds 4-6 inches apart in rows or blocks, depending on your garden setup.
One tip I like to recommend is to use an inoculant when planting peas, especially if you’re planting them in a new garden bed or in fresh bagged soil. Inoculants introduce beneficial bacteria that help peas convert nitrogen from the air into a form the plant can use. Without this bacteria, pea plants often struggle. You may see yellowing leaves, weak growth, or lower leaves turning brown and crisp.
If you’ve already grown beans or peas in that bed within the last two or three years, the beneficial bacteria is likely still present in the soil and you may not need inoculant again. But in brand-new beds or containers, it makes a noticeable difference.
If you forget to use inoculant at planting time, it’s not too late. You can apply it later, and if your plants are already struggling, you can give them a temporary boost with a light liquid fertilizer while the bacteria establishes itself.
Trellising Your Peas
Peas love to climb, and providing them with something to hold onto will keep them happy and productive.
Most peas are vining varieties, and they need support. You can use simple materials like chicken wire, bamboo sticks, cattle panels, or netting to create a trellis. Having the trellis in place at planting time makes things much easier as the plants begin to grow.
There are also bush varieties of peas that stay more compact and don’t require trellising. These can be convenient, especially in smaller spaces, but they often produce less overall than vining types. If you want maximum harvest from a small footprint, vining peas on a trellis usually outperform bush varieties.
Trellising improves airflow, reduces disease pressure, and makes harvesting far easier.
Sunlight and Watering
Peas thrive in full sun, even in Florida. Make sure your garden spot gets around 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
During winter, our daylight hours are shorter and the sun sits lower in the sky, which creates longer shadows. The intensity of the sun is also reduced compared to summer. Because of this, peas benefit from as much sun exposure as you can give them during the cooler months.
When it comes to watering, peas prefer consistent moisture but don’t like to be waterlogged. Aim for about one inch of water per week. A medium, steady rainfall often provides this naturally, but if you’re watering by hand, make sure the soil stays evenly moist, especially during germination and early growth.
A good layer of mulch helps maintain moisture levels and regulate soil temperature during Florida’s unpredictable winter swings.
Pest Management and Fertilization
Florida gardeners know that pests are part of the deal, and peas are no exception. Fortunately, pest pressure is typically lower during the winter months.
Birds and squirrels may be interested in freshly planted seeds. Netting can help protect young plants without blocking sunlight or airflow. Aphids and caterpillars occasionally appear, but they can usually be managed with hand-picking or organic sprays if needed.
If you’ve used inoculant, fertilizing peas is generally unnecessary. The plants will naturally fix nitrogen in the soil. If you skipped inoculant and notice yellowing or weak growth, a light application of a liquid fertilizer, such as Neptune’s Harvest fish fertilizer, can provide a short-term boost.
Harvesting Peas
Harvesting peas is one of the most rewarding parts of the process. Peas are typically ready to pick about 60 to 70 days after planting, depending on the variety and weather conditions.
For shelling peas, wait until the pods are completely filled and feel firm when gently squeezed. The peas inside should feel full and tight, with no give in the pod. If you wait too long and the pods begin to yellow, the peas can turn starchy instead of sweet.
For snap peas, you can harvest them as soon as peas form inside the pod, but for the best sweetness and texture, pick them just before the pods become fully swollen. If you wait too long, they can lose their crisp texture.
For snow peas, harvest while the pods are still flat, just as the tiniest bumps from the peas inside begin to show. You want the peas inside to remain immature for the best flavor and tenderness.
To harvest, simply pinch the pea pods off the plant gently. For larger harvests, peas can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer storage, blanch and freeze them. Snap and snow peas can also be freeze-dried or dehydrated, although shelling peas need to be pierced slightly before dehydrating to ensure proper drying.
How Many Pea Plants Do You Need?
How many pea plants should you grow? If you’re just looking to snack on fresh peas, 15 plants per person should give you enough for the season. However, if you’re planning to preserve peas for future use (freezing or canning), you’ll want to plant around 30 plants per person.
Enjoying Peas from Your Florida Garden
Growing peas in Florida may seem challenging at first, but once you understand the importance of timing and give them the right care, peas are a highly rewarding crop to grow. Their sweet flavor, climbing vines, and steady harvest make them one of the best cool-season crops for Florida gardeners.
If you haven’t tried growing peas in Florida yet, give it a shot this season. With the right timing and a little attention to inoculation, sunlight, and harvest stage, you might be surprised at how productive they can be. Happy gardening.
If you’re looking for even more detailed guidance on growing veggies here in Florida—like when to start seeds, how to manage pests, and what varieties really thrive—don’t forget to check out my ebook! It’s got a chapter for every single vegetable and is packed with everything I’ve learned over the years gardening in Florida.
