I wish I had a protected growing arrangement with things like peas and beets, but I don't. In fact, they are out in my very exposed, large garden. The one that the neighbor with the tractor and tiller cultivates for me each year.
I used to wait for another guy who didn't show up until he had his spring wheat fields tilled and planted . . . I'd be getting rather desperate to get any cool-season crops in the garden by that time!! But, he retired and maybe this guy will be a little more prompt.
The soil conditions are the most important if you are talking about an open garden, as has already been said. And, then it is
soil temperature that will
determine germination time. Note that it takes 36 days for peas to germinate at 41F and only 14 days for them to emerge at 50. Of course the soil is likely to be warming over the course of a month but you could sow the 1st time, wait 2 weeks and sow again -- and have both plantings show up on the same calendar day!
I am usually slow about getting off the dime with outdoor sowing (and I can't just blame the
tractor guy 
). I would really like to deal with germinating weed seeds early rather than later when there are vegetable seedlings in and amongst 'em :/.
The first things out in my garden are onion sets and spinach seed and rather than use a calendar to tell me when to plant the peas - the Oregon grape (Mahonia) has been my guide for many years. When those yellow flower buds begin to open, I know it makes no sense to wait a moment longer!
Some people use Forsythia as a guide but the weather here is often very rainy when that particular yellow flower blooms. I claim that the weather gods are attempting to drown the bright Forsythia blooms . . .
Steve
welcome to TEG
