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Can You Grow Snap Peas in Iowa?

US · USDA Zone 5a · zones 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b

Grows well here

Snap peas are a great fit for your zone — one of the first crops in and first harvested each year.

Plant zones

2a–9b

Iowa last frost

mid-April

Iowa first frost

mid-October

Days to harvest

60–70 days

When to plant Snap Peases in Iowa

Direct sow

Apr 15

Harvest

Jun 14 – Jun 24

Dates are approximate, based on Iowa's average frost dates. Your exact yard may vary by microclimate.

About Snap Peas

Snap peas are the sweet crisp pods eaten whole — one of the most rewarding quick crops in the garden. Extremely cold-tolerant, they are among the first plants sown in spring and last eaten in early summer.

Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked — 6 weeks before last frost. Install a trellis before planting (tall varieties reach 5-6 feet). Pick daily when pods are plump and sweet. Heat stops production — plant a fall crop as well.

Full snap peas growing guide →

Gardening in Iowa

Iowa has a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Most of the state is Zone 5a-5b. Excellent for cool-season crops and hardy fruits.