legume · direct sow
Pigeon pea: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating pigeon pea a few times a week needs about 62 plants in ~279 sq ft, worth about $62 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 ~$2.50/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 16 | ~72 sq ft | ~32 | ~$16 |
| 2 people | 31 | ~140 sq ft | ~62 | ~$31 |
| 4 people | 62 | ~279 sq ft | ~124 | ~$62 |
| 6 people | 93 | ~419 sq ft | ~186 | ~$93 |
Spacing
18" in row · 36" between rows
Sow depth
1"
Days to harvest
120 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 | May 29 – Jun 24 | — |
Pigeon pea needs about 120 days and your first frost comes too early for that. Even the earliest date shown will not ripen outdoors here, grow it in a container you can move, or treat it as a short-season variety. | ||
| Zone 4 | May 24 – Jun 19 | — |
Pigeon pea needs about 120 days and your first frost comes too early for that. Even the earliest date shown will not ripen outdoors here, grow it in a container you can move, or treat it as a short-season variety. | ||
| Zone 5 | May 14 – Jun 9 | — |
Sow Pigeon pea by May 17 at the latest. The window runs longer than that, but a later sowing will not finish before your first frost. | ||
| Zone 6 | May 4 – May 27 | — |
| Zone 7 | Apr 19 – May 15 | — |
| Zone 8 | Apr 8 – May 4 | — |
| Zone 9 | Mar 6 – Apr 1 | — |
| Zone 10 | Feb 14 – Mar 12 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
For dry peas: pods brown and papery, seeds hard. For green pigeon peas, pick when pods are plump but still green.
Yield
About 0.4 lbs per plant over ~3 productive weeks (~0.4 lb).
Neighbors
Plays well with sweet potato.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
343 kcal · 15 g fiber · 0 mg vitamin C · 1390 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.
Pigeon pea cans, freezes, or dries for the pantry. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Pigeon pea planting questions
How many pigeon pea plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 16 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 62 plants, which takes around 279 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does pigeon pea need?+
Space plants 18" apart in the row with 36" between rows. Sow 1" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant pigeon pea?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing pigeon pea worth it?+
At about $2.50/lb retail and ~0.4 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $62 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.