legume · direct sow
English Shelling Pea: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating english shelling pea a few times a week needs about 89 plants in ~23 sq ft, worth about $67 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$3.00/lb retail — an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 23 | ~6 sq ft | ~41 | ~$17 |
| 2 people | 45 | ~12 sq ft | ~80 | ~$34 |
| 4 people | 89 | ~23 sq ft | ~158 | ~$67 |
| 6 people | 133 | ~34 sq ft | ~235 | ~$100 |
Spacing
2" in row · 18" between rows
Sow depth
1"
Days to harvest
63 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Mar 24 – May 5 | Jun 27 – Jun 30 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 19 – Apr 30 | Jul 7 – Jul 10 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 9 – Apr 20 | Jul 17 – Jul 20 |
| Zone 6 | Feb 27 – Apr 10 | Jul 27 – Jul 30 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 12 – Mar 26 | Aug 6 – Aug 9 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 1 – Mar 15 | Aug 27 – Aug 30 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 1 – Feb 10 | Sep 16 – Sep 19 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 1 – Jan 21 | Sep 26 – Sep 29 |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Yield
About 0.25 lbs per plant over ~3 productive weeks (~0.25 lb). Re-sow every ~10 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Mexican bean beetle · Aphids · Rust & powdery mildew — the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with carrot, radish, spinach, lettuce-leaf. Keep away from onion-bulb, garlic, bunching-onion.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
81 kcal · 5.7 g fiber · 40 mg vitamin C · 244 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code — not just your zone — in about 60 seconds.