Snow Peas in South

I have never grown snow peas. I know they like cool or cold weather.
I know you can sow the seeds 4 weeks before last frost.
I know you can sow seeds in peat pellets and transplant to garden.==using peat pellets cause their roots do not like to be disturbed. plus by using peat pellets can transplant out for early start instead of sowing direct 4 to 6 weeks before last frost.

Do you have to protect the plants from light frost or even heavy frost?
Sometime during the first week of April we always get a freeze front that only last a few days then spring is there to stay after-wards.

My idea was to grow the snow peas in my raised concrete block beds in the
block holes so they will hang over the blocks which are 3 high( 24 inch) on the side that gets evening shade. Was thinking to put 2 in each block hole section. They will get at least 8 to 9 hours of direct sunlight during early spring. Less light as spring progresses.

later when temps are too warm for peas to offer much, can replace with warm weather crops or flowers.

whatcha think? good , bad, suggestions?

If it was me, I would plant 4 weeks before last frost directly in the garden. The peas germinate in 5-10 days and are cold tolerant. No fuss with the spendy peat pots, no hardening off, etc.
FYI some folks around here plant peas on March 17 . That is about 8 weeks before the last frost around here

I plan on putting mine in around March 30 (zone 5a).

I was checking out Pea Culture in a couple of sites and it does not specify any protection during frosts. The general directions are to plant 1 1/2 inches deep as soon as the soil can be worked. The main concern is stress from heat and lack of water.

The Pacific NorthWest is such a different climate from yours, but I am planning to plant my sugar snaps (similar in culture to Snow Peas) in early February. We will still have a chance for frost until Late March to Early April. Of course, seeds are cheap, so if they fail, I will just replant.

In fact, they even suggest planting in the fall and winter for an earier Spring harvest.

i rarely view YouTubes cause I have dial up and this one took 43 minutes to load.



I have never owned or wore high heel shoes== and that little video was funny----to me.
thats one good way to put high heels to good use.

Thank you Camprn. I enjoyed the video.

8 wks before last frost. wow. I did use google before posting my question. I did not read every google result ===guess thats why i missed 8 wks before. And of course I always pass up the youtubes cause they take forever to load. I rather pay $7 a month for dial up and use the $33 that i save for not having high speed on gardening. $33 buys a lot of gardening supplies.

thank you Furbalsmom


I am going to start the peas both ways, direct sow and peat pellets just because I want to see if they will die in peat pellets and transplanting. (peat pellets= $ 0.07 each.)

Because I have no experience with peas at all, It is hard for me to imagine that they will survive a deep freeze. I believe, I believe, I believe.

I did buy pea transplants last year for my fall garden. They did not do well, but that is not necessarily the fault of the transplants.

I was doing the old SFG method in amended soil and had a horrible time with weeds, I just could not keep up with the weeds. They got off to a good start, but fizzled after they got up to about 12 inches tall. So, based on how they did at first, it was probably my failing battle with weeds, rather than the transplants that did them in.

aww,how sad.

off topic to peas=

from my experience with old method of sfg with existing soil, I have always removed the top 3 inches of existing soil because this is where most weed seeds and roots are and amended the deeper earth. It always works out great for me. Weed seeds may eventually work there way to the garden by air but nothing major.
Working with the existing top soils has frustrated many but it can be done successfully.