My Late Start with Peas (and What to Plant After They Quit on You)

Gardening in Oklahoma, Zone 7b

Look, I’ll be the first to admit — I’m not out here winning gold medals for perfectly-timed garden planning. I try, but life, caffeine, kids, and general chaos get in the way. Which brings me to today’s hot garden confession: I planted my peas late this year. Like April 26th late.

For anyone else in Zone 7b (hey, Oklahoma gardeners!), you probably already know peas are basically the cool-weather, overachieving students of the garden world. They like to show up early, do their thing fast, and peace out the moment it gets hot.

When You Should Plant Peas in Zone 7b (Not Like Me)

In our neck of the woods, peas prefer to be planted late winter to very early spring — we’re talking February to mid-March, depending on how sassy the weather’s being that year. They thrive in cooler temps and start pouting the minute summer shows up with her 90-degree attitude.

I planted Burpee Organic Garden Sweet Peas, which are known for their sweet pods and climbing vines — super satisfying when they get going… but also super sensitive to heat. And spoiler alert: planting them in late April? Pushing it.

How My Late Planted Peas Are Doing (A Small Miracle, Honestly)

By the time I tossed those seeds in the ground on April 26th, they were already on borrowed time. But here’s where the gardening gods smiled on me — this spring was weirdly perfect.

We actually had a real spring this year — rainy, mild, cooler temps that lingered longer than usual. Oklahoma didn’t dive headfirst into summer in April for once, and honestly? It saved my procrastinating self.

What Do You Plant After Your Peas Quit?

Once peas finish their production (or in my case, barely get a chance to), you can totally reclaim that garden space for some late summer or fall crops. Here are a few options for Zone 7b folks when the peas give up:

✅ Bush Beans or Pole Beans – These heat-tolerant champs can go in right after peas vacate the space. They love the warmth and can keep producing well into early fall.

✅ Cucumbers – Perfect if you want climbing vines to replace those pea trellises. Quick-growing and summer-approved.

✅ Zucchini or Squash – If you’ve got the room and patience for their sprawling personalities, zucchini can fill that garden void nicely.

✅ Okra – Thrives in the heat, practically invincible, and perfect for southern gardens.

✅ Late Summer Greens (Later in July/August) – If you’re patient, you can sneak in some kale, Swiss chard, or lettuce once the worst of the summer heat backs off (usually late August to September here).

Can You Retry Peas for a Fall Crop? Yes… But Timing is Everything

If your inner overachiever still wants sweet peas this year, you can go for a fall crop — but again, the timing window is tight.

For Zone 7b in Oklahoma, fall peas should be planted around mid-August to early September, once the brutal summer temps start calming down but while there’s still enough daylight and warmth to get them established.

A few tips if you want to give peas a redemption arc this fall:

🌱 Choose Fast-Maturing Varieties – Look for types like Burpee Garden Sweet Peas that mature quickly so they can beat the first frost.

🌱 Keep Seeds Cool & Moist at Planting – August heat can dry soil fast, so water well and consider mulching to keep the soil happy.

🌱 Watch the Frost Dates – First frost around here usually hits late October to early November, so count backwards to ensure your peas have time to produce before winter crashes the party.

Is it ambitious? Maybe. But hey — gardening is basically one big, hopeful experiment with snacks. So why not try again?

Lessons Learned (and Embracing the Chaos)

Would it have been ideal to plant my peas on time? Sure. Did I? Absolutely not. But gardening isn’t about perfection — it’s about learning, adapting, and sometimes laughing at your own “oops.”

So whether your peas thrived, flopped, or never even made it out of the seed packet, there’s always time to plant something else — or try for a fall comeback.

Stay caffeinated, stay chaotic, and happy planting!