Hairy Vetch is an annual or biennial or perennial grown for its pods, ready to pick about 150 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 10. Its early spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the pods are the prize. A heavy nitrogen-fixer, it draws nitrogen from the air and feeds it back to the soil — turn it under or leave the roots in place, and the next planting inherits a richer bed.
Zones
3-10
pH Range
4.9-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
150
Score Hairy Vetch on your exact land.
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What Hairy Vetch is
Hairy Vetch grows as an annual or biennial or perennial and reaches around three feet at maturity. It blooms purple in early spring.
How to grow Hairy Vetch
Hairy Vetch grows in USDA zones 3 through 10 and is ready to harvest about 150 days after planting. Hairy Vetch does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.9 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,800 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 90 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-10
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.9 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
39.2°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
150 days
Hairy vetch; cover crop; no strat.
USDA-NRCS
GDD Required
1800+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
3 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
90+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant hairy vetch in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Hairy Vetch prefers pH 4.9 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band. It fixes its own nitrogen, so skip the high-nitrogen feed and instead dust the seed with a matching rhizobium inoculant at sowing.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Hairy Vetch is ready about 150 days after sowing (USDA-NRCS). Pick the pods young and tender, before the seeds inside fully swell.
Good to know
Hairy Vetch offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Hairy Vetch thrives
On hardiness alone, hairy vetch grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 3 through 10) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–10·Where Hairy Vetch growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Hairy Vetch can grow in these states:
See if Hairy Vetch will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether hairy vetch actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Hairy Vetch in my zone?
Hairy Vetch grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 10 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Hairy Vetch take to grow?
Hairy Vetch is ready to harvest about 150 days after planting (USDA-NRCS). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Hairy Vetch?
Most growers plant hairy vetch after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 90-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Hairy Vetch need?
Hairy Vetch needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Hairy Vetch need?
Hairy Vetch prefers soil pH 4.9 to 8, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Hairy Vetch attract pollinators?
Yes — hairy vetch's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Hairy Vetch safe for pets?
Pet toxicity data for hairy vetch isn't yet confirmed. Consult the ASPCA Poison Control database for the latest information.