DTM on most varieties is 60-65 days so it is easy to plant in Sept. and get a crop by end of October into early November. My official first frost date isn't until Nov. 10 but it is usually much later than that because of my zone 7 micro-climate here by the lake. These are quite frost tolerant so I am usually still harvesting well into Nov. or even early Dec. I don't know your first frost date down there but I'd expect it to be later than mine so adjust planting time accordingly. Dave

I just got my peas (and lettuce, spinach, radishes, etc. seeds) out of the fridge. No inoculant - where do you buy it? My great-uncle just soaks his, don't think he adds inoculant. But I'm thinking of starting them. School conference tomorrow, maybe Thurs? All my peas rotted last year - never came up. But half my lettuce rotted too, hope this year is better. Started my tomatoes Monday (a week ago) and they're almost all up, but won't put those out til Memorial Day (*maybe* Mother's Day but we've had late frosts...) so plenty of time for peas. Got some peppers going, but most still hiding -could take another week or 2 for chiles. Then again, it's going to be 80 tomorrow and Thurs - crazy weather! Should I wait til weekend when things cool off to 50's to plant?

Snap peas ( Sugar Snap is one variety) are essentially shelling peas with a tender fleshy pod. They can be used at any up until the pod begins to dry. Like snap beans, as they approach maturity, they are best used as shellies. Both shelling peas and snap peas are normally used in immature stages. There is a group of peas usually referred to as soup peas, which are used as mature (dried peas) Snow peas are grown for the immature pods and tender shoots. The actual peas have little use. These have to be picked before the peas begin to form in the pod. A pod containing peas will be tough and stringy.

Don't despair, people with wilting peas! After pea season comes bean season--the squarefoot garden marches on! (Well, it really just sits there and grows, but you know what I mean....) (Also, it might be time to drool over the idea of planting asparagus peas on that trellis...) Another good trellis option for warm weather is the cucumber--they don't like it cool.