How to grow Peas in New Zealand
Fresh peas eaten straight from the pod are one of the treats of a cool-season garden, and they are easy to grow. Peas like cool, moist conditions, so in New Zealand they are sown from autumn through to early spring in the north and from late winter into early summer in the south. As legumes they also leave nitrogen in the soil for the next crop.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Peas in New Zealand: When to Plant and Harvest
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | March to May, August and September | |
| Auckland | March to May, August and September | |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | March to May, August and September | |
| Central North Island | March to May, August and September | |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | March to May, August and September | |
| Nelson & Marlborough | March to May, August and September | |
| Canterbury | August to November | Sow Aug to Nov. Frost spoils the flowers and pods of autumn sowings. |
| Otago & Southland | September to December | Sow Sep to Dec. Cool summers suit peas well here. |
| Central Otago | September to November | Sow Sep to Nov so the crop is picked before the midsummer heat. |
Not to be confused with: Sweet peas, the scented flowering climber, which are not edible. Snow peas and sugar snap peas are eaten pod and all, and pea shoots are young pea seedlings.
Where to plant
Grow peas in full sun in rich, moist, cool, well-drained soil improved with compost or sheep pellets. They grow best before the warm weather arrives; heat brings powdery mildew and ends the crop.
Climbing types need a trellis, netting or wire panel that lets air move through the plants. Rotate peas, and do not grow them in the same spot two years running if they had disease the season before.
- Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, the central North Island, Wellington, and Nelson and Marlborough: sow from March to May and in August and September, avoiding the heat of summer.
- Canterbury: sow from August to November. Frost spoils the flowers and pods of autumn sowings.
- Otago and Southland: sow from September to December. Cool summers suit peas well here.
- Central Otago: sow from September to November so the crop is picked before the midsummer heat.
Choosing a variety
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| Greenfeast | A popular, heavy-bearing shelling pea with plump, sweet peas; grows to about waist height (90 cm) and needs sturdy support |
| Earlicrop Massey | A dwarf shelling pea that needs no support; good for small spaces and containers |
| Alderman or Telephone (tall) | Tall climbing heritage shelling peas that need a strong trellis and crop for a long time |
| Sugar snap types | Plump, edible-podded peas eaten whole; climbing and dwarf forms |
| Shiraz | A purple-podded pea sold by Kings Seeds, eaten as a snow pea type |
How to plant
- Put up the trellis or netting for climbing types before sowing.
- Dampen the soil, then sow seed about 2.5 cm deep and 5 to 10 cm apart, in double rows along the support.
- Do not water again until seedlings appear; seed can rot in cold, wet soil.
- Protect seedlings from birds and slugs with netting or covers until they are established.
- Sow a new batch every four to five weeks through the season for a longer harvest.
Watering and feeding
Once seedlings are up, keep the soil moist but not wet, especially during flowering and podding. Water the soil rather than the leaves to reduce mildew.
Peas need little nitrogen, as they make their own. A light dressing of vegetable food at sowing is enough; too much nitrogen gives leaves rather than pods.
Harvesting
Peas are ready about 10 to 16 weeks after sowing. Pick shelling peas when the pods look full and feel plump but are still bright green; sugar snaps when the pods are plump and crisp. Pick every two to three days, as regular picking keeps the plants producing.
Peas are sweetest straight after picking, as their sugar turns to starch quickly. Shell and freeze any surplus. When the crop finishes, cut the plants off at ground level or dig them in, leaving the nitrogen-rich roots in the soil.
Growing in pots
Dwarf peas such as Earlicrop Massey grow well in a trough or pot at least 60 cm wide and 20 cm deep, in full sun and out of strong wind, with a small trellis if needed. Keep the mix moist and pick often.
Companion planting
Peas fix nitrogen and suit many cool-season companions, but traditional advice keeps them away from the onion family.
Good companions
- Carrot A root crop that shares the cool season and the space below the pea row.
- Radish A quick crop sown along the row before the peas fill out.
- Corn Benefits from the nitrogen peas leave in the soil when it follows them.
- Cucumber A traditional companion that can follow peas on the same trellis.
- Beans Fellow legumes that can share a rotation slot.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to peas.
Pests and diseases
Birds and slugs on young seedlings, and powdery mildew as the weather warms, are the main pea problems in New Zealand.
Pests to watch for
- Birds Seedlings pulled out and young shoots and pods pecked; net young plants.
- Slugs Seedlings chewed off at ground level, especially in damp weather.
- Aphids Green clusters on shoot tips and pods as the weather warms.
Diseases to watch for
- Powdery mildew White powdery coating on the leaves and pods as the weather warms; sow early and keep plants watered.
- Rust Small orange to brown pustules on leaves and stems.
- Fusarium wilt Lower leaves yellow and plants wilt and die despite moist soil; rotate peas.
Common questions
When do I plant peas in New Zealand?
In most of the North Island and the top of the South, sow from March to May and in August and September. In Canterbury sow from August to November, in Otago and Southland from September to December, and in Central Otago from September to November.
Should I soak pea seed before sowing?
It is not necessary. Sow into damp soil and do not water again until seedlings appear, as seed can rot in cold, wet soil.
Why are my peas covered in white powder?
That is powdery mildew, which arrives as the weather warms. Sow early so the crop finishes before the heat, water the soil not the leaves, and give plants good airflow.
When are peas ready to pick?
When the pods look full and feel plump but are still bright green, about 10 to 16 weeks after sowing. Pick every two to three days to keep them coming.
Do peas need a trellis?
Climbing types do. Dwarf types such as Earlicrop Massey are self-supporting, though a few twigs help in windy spots.
Are sweet peas edible?
No. Sweet peas are flowering plants and their seeds and pods are not safe to eat. Grow garden peas, snow peas or sugar snaps for eating.
Sources we checked: Tui: Pea growing guide; Yates NZ: How to grow peas; Kings Seeds NZ: Pea Greenfeast.