If we are saving seeds from spring peas, can they be planted for a fall crop before they are thoroughly dried?

Question:

If we are saving seeds from spring peas, can they be planted for a fall crop before they are thoroughly dried?

Answer:

Frank S. Wertheim, Extension Educator – Agriculture/Horticulture

When you save seeds from peas, they should be left on the vine inside the pod past ripening until they turn brown and start to rattle inside. If the peas you have saved have met this requirement, then go ahead and plant them for a fall crop. It is getting a bit late now (mid August) to plant peas for a fall crop as the temperatures may turn colder before they have a chance to go from vegetative leaf growth to flowering, setting seeds and maturing, but you have nothing to lose by giving it a try. Ideally, you would have seeded them in the garden by early August.

This fact sheet from the University of Minnesota Extension explains a bit more.