When to plant sweet peas in La Grande, OR

Plant sweet peas from seed, directly in the garden in La Grande, Apr 1 – May 6.

Moderate Plant seeds in the ground

Why these dates

La Grande's typical last spring frost is May 6. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the Inland Northwest, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about April 1.

Inland Northwest. Higher, colder interior valleys. Cold springs and an earlier fall mean a shorter season; quick-maturing varieties pay off.

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

Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant seeds Apr 1 – May 6, 1 inch deep (soak seeds overnight first), 4 to 6 inches apart along a trellis.
Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
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 La Grande, OR?

Typically May 6. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 26. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for La Grande.

Is it too late to plant sweet peas in La Grande?

The spring planting window runs through May 6. 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 La Grande around the same time

Planting dates for sweet peas in nearby areas

Baker City, OR Apr 20 – May 25
Pendleton, OR Mar 20 – Apr 24
The Dalles, OR Mar 20 – Apr 24
Hood River, OR Mar 20 – Apr 24
Hermiston, OR Mar 20 – Apr 24
Ontario, OR Mar 20 – Apr 24

Full planting calendar for La Grande · Sweet peas in every city