Do pea plants survive winter frost?

Peas resist light frosts down to 28°F (-2°C), but prolonged freezes will seriously harm or kill them. In my Zone 5b fall crop, I understood that I could maintain an outdoor pea crop through six frosts by placing fabric row covers over the plants, and harvesting pods until the hard December freeze. A key point is that you will always want to replant your peas, as they do not return or regenerate if planted in the fall.

Enhance your harvests using cold frames in growth zones 6-8. My frame (made of old windows and straw bale insulation) kept soil at a cozy 40°F (4°C) while nighttime lows fell to 20°F (-7°C). Provide ventilation daily if sun and temps rise to above 45°F (7°C). Failure to provide ventilation makes mold likely.

In the fall, it's considered ideal to install plants at least 8-10 weeks before the first frost. You can plant snow peas, such as 'Mammoth Melting', in late summer for a harvest in November. In the fall, I succession plant the snow pea every 10 days, with the final planting maturing just as the first frost is bringing sweetness to the pods caused by cold-induced sugar conversion.

The winter-kill indicators, which may include dark brown leaves and dead stems that are mushy, are best cut away quickly, as undesirable diseases may dwell in them. After frost, check soil nutrients. For example, peas will remove nitrogen and will require a compost addition come spring before replanting.

Read the full article: How to Grow Peas: The Complete Guide