When to Plant Peas (Garden/Shelling) in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Sow March to June. 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 Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Peas (Garden/Shelling)

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 Tropical

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - S S/T/D T/D T - - - - - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Peas (Garden/Shelling) sowing time in Cairns?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Peas (Garden/Shelling) included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 21.4°C (optimal range: 8–24°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Peas (Garden/Shelling) in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

Not viable. Temperatures consistently too high for pea production. Even dry-season lows rarely drop enough for sustained pea cropping.

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

Tropical Growing Tips for Peas (Garden/Shelling)

Recommended Varieties

  • Not recommended for this zone

Key Challenges

  • Excessive heat causes flower drop and no pod set
  • Fungal diseases rampant in humidity
  • No realistic growing window

Pro Tips

  • Be honest: peas do not work in tropical lowlands
  • If in tropical highlands (e.g., Atherton Tablelands above 600m), treat as cool-temperate zone
  • Grow beans instead. They fill the same dietary niche and thrive in heat

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

What peas costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the tropical zone this September: Lemongrass, Ginger, Cucumber and Basil.

The pest most likely to find your peas: Botrytis / Grey Mould.

Get the Full Interactive Guide

Track your garden, get real-time pest alerts, and plan around your zone's weather.

Open the planting dashboard Join Garden Buddy

Common 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:

Does peas grow all year round in Cairns?

No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Mar to Jun. 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.