Illinois · zones 5b6b

When to plant snap peas in Illinois.

Sow between Feb 27 to Apr 10 in a typical year, keyed to Illinois's median last frost around Apr 20. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.

The 2026 windows

Snap Peas dates for a typical Illinois season.

Direct sow

Feb 27 to Apr 10

Keyed to the ~Apr 20 last frost. Sow 1" deep, 2" apart.

Harvest

~62 days later

~0.4 lb per plant over ~3 weeks.

Illinois spans more than one climate: Zone 6 is the most common zone, but the state runs 5b to 6b. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone — mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.