When to Plant Peas in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
Jump to section
This Peas guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to Jun
- Days to harvest
- 60 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 8 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
Garden peas are a cool-season legume best suited to temperate and cold Australian climates. They fix nitrogen in the soil and produce sweet, protein-rich seeds inside inedible pods.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar S/D
- Apr S/T/D
- May S/T/D
- Jun T/D
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Arid / Semi-Arid zone right now, Peas included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Peas in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Do not over-enrich. Peas fix their own nitrogen.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade (tolerates afternoon shade in warmer zones)
- Spacing
- 8cm apart, 60cm between rows
- Watering
- Keep evenly moist, especially during flowering and pod fill. Water at base, not overhead. Reduce watering as pods mature.
- Good companions
- Cucumber, Carrot, Sweet Corn, Radish, Spinach
- Keep away from
- Chickpeas, Chives, Leek (Listed as a bad companion for leeks; no reason is given.), Onion, Spring onion (Gardenate lists peas as a plant to avoid growing close to spring onions.), Tree Onion
- Grow before it
- Roots and alliums (Carrot, Beetroot, Onion)
- Grow after it
- Leafy greens and brassicas (Lettuce, Silverbeet, Broccoli)
Give the bed 3 turns before legumes go back in. Beans and peas fix nitrogen, so they leave the bed richer than they found it.
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Peas
Recommended Varieties
- Greenfeast
- Massey Gem
- Early maturing varieties
Key Challenges
- Dry air causes rapid moisture loss
- Short viable window between heat waves
- Water requirements higher than humid zones
Pro Tips
- Shade cloth (30%) helps extend the season
- Drip irrigation essential. Peas need consistent moisture during flowering
- Mulch heavily to retain soil moisture
Pests and problems for Peas in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Peas
When ready: Pods plump and well-filled but still bright green. Peas inside should be round but not starchy. Test by eating one, should be sweet.
How to harvest: Hold stem with one hand, pick pod with the other to avoid uprooting plant. Harvest every 2-3 days. Pick from the bottom of the plant upward.
Storing and preserving peas
How to keep it
- Freezing. Shell peas. Blanch for 1-2 minutes, ice bath, drain well. Freeze in single layer on tray, then bag. Best preservation method for peas. Keeps: 12 months.
- Drying. Shell mature peas. Spread on mesh trays. Dehydrate at 55C for 8-10 hours until completely hard. Store in airtight jars. Keeps: 2+ years.
Canning safety. Low-acid vegetables like peas must be pressure canned, never water-bath canned.
What peas costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Peas
When do you plant peas in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): May to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to Sep
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Mar to Oct
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Jun
- Mediterranean (Perth): Apr to Sep
Can you grow peas all year round in Alice Springs?
No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Mar to Jun. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Peas in Alice Springs?
Sow in autumn in full sun and very fertile soil, and stake well. Peas will not set pods during frosts and get mildew in spring heat.
What soil temperature do Peas need?
Peas germinate best when soil temperature is between 8°C and 24°C.
How do I know when Peas are ready to harvest?
Pods plump and well-filled but still bright green. Peas inside should be round but not starchy. Test by eating one, should be sweet.
What are the best Peas varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Greenfeast, Massey Gem, Early maturing varieties.
What grows well with Peas?
Good companion plants for Peas include: Cucumber, Carrot, Sweet Corn, Radish, Spinach.
Are peas salt tolerant?
Only a little. Peas are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.