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A pink and purple sweet pea flower
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When to plant sweet peas in Baker City, OR

Plant sweet peas from seed, directly in the garden in Baker City, Apr 20 – May 25.

Moderate Plant seeds in the ground

Why these dates

Baker City's typical last spring frost is May 25. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the high desert and mountains, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about April 20.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty
Moderate
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
4 to 6 inches apart along a trellis
Planting depth
1 inch deep (soak seeds overnight first)
Frost
Handles light frost
Flowers
Blooms in early summer

Step by step

  1. Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant seeds Apr 20 – May 25, 1 inch deep (soak seeds overnight first), 4 to 6 inches apart along a trellis.
  3. Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
  4. Harvest: Cut stems every couple of days; the more you pick, the more they bloom. Plants stop flowering once pods form.

Varieties that do well here

  • Cupani (very fragrant)
  • Spencer mix
  • Royal Family (more heat-tolerant)

Watch out for

Aphids and powdery mildew late in the season. Sow early so plants peak before summer heat.

A classic cut flower that loves cool Northwest springs. Sow early, give them a trellis and pick often. The seeds are toxic, so these are for flowers only.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Baker City, OR?

Typically May 25. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 16. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Baker City Municipal Airport.

Is it too late to plant sweet peas in Baker City?

The spring planting window runs through May 25. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.

When do sweet peas bloom?

Blooms in early summer. Cut stems every couple of days; the more you pick, the more they bloom. Plants stop flowering once pods form.

Also plant in Baker City around the same time

Planting dates for sweet peas in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Baker City · Sweet peas in every city