When to plant southern peas
Planting guidance only where a state's extension service prints it.
Planting guidance by state
Texas
They thrive on heat and full sun and should be planted well after the last frost. This is generally March in the southern half of Texas and April or later in the northern half of the state. A second crop can be planted as late as July.
Oklahoma
Make the earliest plantings in mid-May in central Oklahoma but make sure the soil temperature has been 70°F or above for several days prior to planting. Do not plant later than July 15.
Arkansas
Plant southern peas after the soil is thoroughly warm (62 degrees F or greater) in late spring or early summer.
For fall planting, plant about 65 to 75 days prior to the average frost date to be sure of production.
Enter a date to apply the Arkansas rule.
Our calculation: the frost date minus 75 days and minus 65 days, as the quote above prints. Your frost date comes from your local weather records or extension office; we don't supply one.
Georgia
In the spring, plant after the danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures are 60°F or above. For fall production, seed early enough so that harvesting of the crop can be completed before damaging frost occurs.
South Carolina
Southern peas are a warm-season crop requiring warm soil temperature (at least 60 °F) for the best germination and emergence.
Mississippi
The optimum soil temperature for germination ranges from 70 to 95°F.
Our count: 6 states with printed planting guidance. States not listed: none of our sources prints planting guidance for them.
Our reading written by Cowpea Seeds
Extension services in 6 states print planting guidance for southern peas, and five of them tie planting to soil temperature. Arkansas asks for thoroughly warm soil at 62 degrees F or more, Georgia for 60°F or above in spring once the danger of frost has passed, South Carolina for warm soil of 60 °F or more, and Oklahoma, for its earliest plantings in central Oklahoma, 70°F for several days. Mississippi's experiment station gives 70 to 95°F as the optimum range for germination.
Texas A&M says to plant well after the last frost, which it puts generally in March in the southern half of Texas and April or later in the northern half. Arkansas prints a fall rule with numbers, about 65 to 75 days before the average frost date, and the calculator below applies it to the frost date you enter. Oklahoma prints a cutoff of July 15, and Georgia asks that fall plantings leave time to finish harvest before a damaging frost.
Our plain-language reading of the extension text quoted on this page. It adds no facts of its own.
Check before you plant. Varieties, dates and disease notes depend on your area and season. Confirm with University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension: Home Gardening Series, Southern Peas (FSA-6020, PDF) and Oklahoma State University Extension: Southern Pea Production (HLA-6029, PDF) or your local extension office; we last found these words there on October 14, 2026.
About seed
Q. Can I save seed from this year’s black-eyed pea crop for next year’s garden? A. Yes, but this is not recommended. Peas are self-pollinated, and seed may be saved for planting in next year’s garden. However, several types of seedborne diseases may show up if seeds are saved for later plantings.
It is always a good practice to buy Western-grown certified seed to insure true-to-type seed with high germination.
Seed quality and variety are important to success when growing peas.
Southern peas are self-pollinating.