Saving pea seeds from the garden for planting next year is super easy! In this post, I will show when to harvest peas for seed, how to save pea seeds from your garden, and also how to store the seeds until spring.
Pea seeds are one of the easiest types of seeds to collect from the garden, and one of the most recognizable seeds too.
Yes indeedy, the seeds are the peas inside the pea pods that we love to eat. How cool is that?
So, if you want to try saving pea seeds from your garden, leave some of the pea pods on the plant so they can mature into seeds that you can save for next year.
Saving Peas For Seed
Most of the time I don’t even have to think about saving peas for seed. Somehow I always seem to miss several peas while I’m harvesting. By the time I notice them, they are yellow or brown and inedible. Oops!
I usually find the bulk of the dried out pea pods when I pull the plants after they are done producing, or when I’m cleaning out the garden in the fall. Score! Free pea seeds for next year!
Related Post: How To Grow Peas
When To Harvest Peas For Seed
Once the pod has turned brown and looks dried out, then you know it’s time to harvest pea seeds for planting. Sometimes the pea seeds will even rattle around inside the pod, which is a sure sign that they’re ready to be collected.
What Do Pea Seeds Look Like?
As I mentioned above, the peas are the seeds! Easy, right!? Pea seeds that are ready to be collected will be wrinkly hard, and inedible. Depending on the variety, your pea seeds might be light green or tan in color.
Related Post: How To Can Peas: Easy, Safe Recipe
How To Harvest Pea Seeds
Once you’ve determined that it’s time to start collecting pea seeds, then you can simply cut or pull the dried pea pods from the plant. To collect pea seeds, simply break open the pods.
The pea pods don’t have to be completely dried out in order to harvest the seeds. But don’t allow pea seeds to sit in the pods for very long after collecting them or the seeds might get moldy.
Related Post: How To Freeze Peas The Right Way
How To Save Pea Seeds For Planting Next Year
After you’re done collecting pea seeds, but sure to let them dry out completely before storing seeds. Drying pea seeds is very important, otherwise the seeds could mold while they’re in storage.
Simply let the seeds sit out for several days until they’re dry. Dried pea seeds should be completely hard.
Once they’re dry, you can store pea seeds in a plastic container (film canisters are great for this!), a paper bag or small envelopes until spring.
If you’re planning to share your seeds with friends, you can make your own seed envelopes, or take it up a notch and order customized envelopes, how fun!
I store my seeds in a clear plastic container, but if you like to organize your seeds better than that, a Seed Keeper would be perfect for you!
Where To Buy Pea Seeds
You should have no problem finding a variety of pea seeds for sale at your local garden center during the mid-winter through early spring.
Or, if you prefer, you can order pea seeds online any time of the year. Here are some great, quality seeds you can buy to get started…
Saving pea seeds from your garden is fun and frugal. Now that you know how to save peas for seed, you can keep the varieties you love year after year, and it won’t cost you a dime. Don’t forget to share them with friends too.
If you’re tired of struggling, and want to learn how to grow any plant you want from seed, then enroll in my online Seed Starting Course. It’s a wonderful, fun, self-paced course that will teach you everything you need to know to easily grow your own seedlings. Enroll and get started today!
Or, if you just need a refresher, then my Starting Seeds Indoors eBook is for you! It’s a quick-start guide that will get you planting seeds in no time.
More Posts About Saving Seeds
- How To Harvest & Store Dill Seeds
- How To Harvest & Save Radish Seeds
- How To Collect & Store Lettuce Seeds
- How To Harvest & Save Bean Seeds
- How To Harvest & Save Cilantro Seeds
Share your tips for how to save peas seeds for planting in the comments section below.
Bill Chandlee says
Picked my peas before reading your posts. Pea pods beginning to fade away and discolor from healthy looking pods but were not totally dried . Three month growth. Peas are nice bright green and I will let them dry. Will they yield healthy vines next spring ? This year’s harvest was terrific which is why I want to try for a repeat
Amy Andrychowicz says
Really the only way to know for sure if the pea seeds you collected are viable is to test them. You can either save them until spring and plant then to see if they grow, or you can perform a simple viability test on them following these instructions.
Danielle says
Your link for purchasing sugar snap peas goes to a link for Botanical Interests Tendersweet snap peas, which they don’t offer anymore. Their Tendersweet variety has been the best of all of their snap pea varieties that I’ve tried (tender, minimal string, prolific). I can’t imagine why they’re not offering it anymore. Anyway, it’s the reason I’m attempting saving peas this year. I dug out a partially used package of seeds from several years ago and got several vines going this year. So, here’s hoping…
Amy Andrychowicz says
Good luck, I hope you’ll be able to save lots of your own pea seeds this year. Fingers crossed!
Joy says
I noticed some of my pods have mold spots on the outside, similar to your picture. Is that ok? What if I see mold spots on the inside of the pod as well but the peas look ok?
Amy Andrychowicz says
As long as the pea seeds themselves don’t have any mold on them, they should be fine.
Meg O says
I saved my seeds but it has been so hot and humid in my house since. Before I store them in a jar (with rice , as i did last year with good results) should I somehow dry them even more?
Amy Andrychowicz says
They must be completely dry before storing them, and peas can take a bit of time. Lay them out in the driest area of your home until they are ready, it usually only takes a week or so, but it’s best to give it plenty of time.
barbee says
can I use the dried peas to make pea sprouts?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Dried peas are just dormant seeds, so yes, you should be able to sprout them (as long as they aren’t cooked).
Yvette McNiece says
So when you’re waiting for the pea pods to turn yellow/brown on the vine, do you still water the plant?
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your pea plant is still green and growing, then yes, I would continue to water it while you wait for the pods to dry.
Moses says
If I don’t want to wait for the peas to dry out completely on the stalk before saving, can I pluck them while green, then let them dry on their own? Or do they have to dry out on the stalk? Also, can green peas be shelled, then dried to be planted later?
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you harvest the pea seeds too early, they won’t be viable. It’s best to leave them on the plant until the pods turn brown, that will give you the best success. You could collect them a bit sooner, once the pea pods start to turn yellow, but I would not pick them any sooner than that. Many times pea seeds are still green even after the pods have turned brown, so there’s no concern there.
Lorelei Eide says
This is the best article I’ve come across on saving pea seeds. I’m pretty new to gardening and often need plain answers. Thank you!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, so glad you found the article helpful! That’s always great to hear. 🙂
tammy thiel says
i have shelled peas i have already picked but not have shucked yet. is there anyway of drying them to save for seeds for next years planting?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, just remove the pea seeds from the pods, and allow them to dry out completely before storing.
Sadie D Canada says
Does it make you pea more organic by using seeds you grown
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you grew your peas organically, then yes, the seeds you collect will also be organic.
PlantPostings says
Good for you, Amy! If I had a decent-sized sunny plot for a veggie garden, I would do the same. I think I will try your winter sowing techniques this year!
Amy Andrychowicz says
My peas do better in part shade. If you end up trying winter sowing, let me know how it goes.
RandomGardener says
I usually buy a big packet of pea seeds at Menards. Early spring they're usually 40% off. I don't know if the peas are hybrid or not so never bothered to collect them. Nice post!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sounds like a great deal on bulk pea seeds! Thanks for sharing!