When to Plant Peas (Garden/Shelling) in Brisbane, Subtropical 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 Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs 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 Subtropical
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | S | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | T/D | T | - | - | - | - |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 20.4°C (optimal range: 8–24°C) ✓ Ready to plant
That figure is read off my own weather station here at Dayboro in South East Queensland at 18:55 yesterday, not a model. The radar, the rain gauge and the forecasts behind it sit on Dayboro.au.
How to Grow Peas (Garden/Shelling) in Subtropical Australia
When to Plant
March to July only. Must finish harvest before September heat. Plant early for best results.
- 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
Subtropical Growing Tips for Peas (Garden/Shelling)
Recommended Varieties
- Greenfeast
- Massey Gem
- Telephone (climbing)
Key Challenges
- Short growing window
- Heat stress if planted too late
- Powdery mildew as temperatures rise
Pro Tips
- Autumn planting (March-April) is the sweet spot in SEQ
- Choose early-maturing varieties to beat spring heat
- Afternoon shade from taller crops helps extend season
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 Brisbane?
No. In the Subtropical 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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.