When to Plant Peas (Garden/Shelling) in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Sow March to August. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is March.
Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Peas (Garden/Shelling) 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.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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. Genuinely unsuitable for tropical zones and marginal in subtropical areas except during the coolest months.
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | S | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | T/D | - | - | - | - |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 22.7°C (optimal range: 8–24°C) ✓ Ready to plant
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
How to Grow Peas (Garden/Shelling) in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
When to Plant
March to June (autumn/winter). Night temperatures cool enough, days warm. Must harvest before hot spring.
- Soil
- Well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Do not over-enrich. Peas fix their own nitrogen.
- 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.
Companion plants: Carrot, Turnip, Radish, Cucumber, Corn
Avoid planting near: Onion, Garlic, Chives, Leek
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Peas (Garden/Shelling)
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
Harvesting Peas (Garden/Shelling)
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.
Worth growing?
A 2.4 m × 1.2 m bed fits 26 plants, about $114 worth at today’s Coles and Woolworths prices, checked today.
That is roughly 4 kg at $29.34 a kilo.
Draw your peas (garden/shelling) bed → No account needed.
Where to next
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Open the planting dashboard Join Garden BuddyCommon Questions About Peas (Garden/Shelling)
When do you plant peas in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Oct
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to Oct
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jul to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to Oct
Does peas grow all year round in Alice Springs?
No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Mar to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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.