When to plant peas in Maine

Peas
Sow outdoors in Portland
Mar 15–Mar 29

Across Maine the window opens between March 14 and April 4. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Portland
Mar 15–Mar 29
Fall planting, Portland
Aug 6–Aug 20
Last frost, Portland
Apr 26

Sow outdoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Peas handle frost. The usual mistake is sowing too late and losing the crop to summer heat.

Peas planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PortlandMar 15–Mar 29
LewistonMar 14–Mar 28
BangorMar 23–Apr 6
South PortlandMar 15–Mar 29
AuburnMar 14–Mar 28
SanfordApr 4–Apr 18
BiddefordMar 28–Apr 11
WestbrookMar 15–Mar 29
SacoMar 15–Mar 29

Questions

When should I plant peas in Maine?

In Portland, sow outdoors from March 15 to March 29. Across Maine the window opens between March 14 and April 4, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Maine

Peas in other states

Frost dates for every city in Maine