They're Baaack, fresh Peas!

[digitS']

This was a couple of days ago. Some of these, and others, came home this morning.

These are Sugar Daddy. Usually, I have snow peas this time of year but, I'm more of an all-American snap pea guy. Did you know that it was a guy in Idaho who developed these?!

No, I mean this class of vegetables. I don't know about the Sugar Daddy variety, maybe someone at Oregon State U . I tried them a few years ago seeing if they would grow in the spring without support. Not very well ...

Sowing the last week of July, my snow peas are always short. The heat of summer must do that to them. Here's a naturally short variety. They went between the broccoli plants and claimed that space after those plants were pulled.

I have to admit that I'm not sure how things would have gone if the cold weather of about 10 days ago would have lingered. Oh, pea plants can survive a frost, you may be saying. Sure they can but, IME it slows them and frost can destroy the blossoms. Waiting for them to bloom and produce may not be an option.

A little earlier sowing, say, the 15th - with the last of the bush bean seed - should be about right for here for snap peas, 9 years out of 10.

Steve

 

[thistlebloom]

Those are real purty!

I'm taking notes Steve. Some year I may actually be the gardener I want to be and keep the garden productive all season long. You do such a good job of interval planting....is that the term I want? Umm, maybe I mean using all the available space throughout the garden year to great advantage.

 

[Carol Dee]

YEAH, the pea season is to short. We did a 2nd planting but let the weeds take over. Those sure look good.

 

[digitS']

I don't want to overstate this because they sure can be but weeds aren't necessarily a problem for a gardener. A plant growing where it is not wanted, @Smart Red rightly tells us. I could say that all non-natives are weeds. Of course, that would mean all of our vegetables and farm crops!

With a short season for cool-season veggies because of the onset of summer heat and the short season for warm-season veggies -- I can get a little frustrated looking at bare ground during the, so-called, "growing season."

It took me quite awhile to learn that mature plants that don't like hot weather may have seed that germinate and seedlings that grow during the heat of summer. I have to pay attention to the calendar and my schedule during July. The spring sown plants are burning up - for some of them, more seed can be sown.

That the warm-season plants may be going great guns in July doesn't mean that they won't play-out by September. Just because there was once frost in my garden in August doesn't mean it won't make it through to October this year, or next!

Steve

 

[ninnymary]

Steve, I've planted Sugar Daddy also but mine are only a couple inches high. I supposedly planted them at the right time for my area. Now, I'm not so sure I shouldn't have planted them earlier. I've put snail bait and something keeps chewing them.

Your plants look so sturdy and healty. I know that they are not the tall vining type but mine are planted along a a trellis just in case. Everything you plant always grows so well and looks gorgeous. I wished you lived near me so you could come over and give me tips!

Mary

 

[canesisters]

Mary, it's the rock mulch that he uses.

 

[digitS']

 

[ninnymary]

Mary, it's the rock mulch that he uses.

I think you're right cannesisters. Notice how he doesn't mention it. I think he wants to keep his secrets to himself.

Mary

 

[Hal]

@digitS' did you direct sow your peas?
The soil among the stones looks good.

 

[digitS']

Yes, direct-seeded.

I set out lettuce transplants right into summer. Lots of transplanting, all the vining plants ... Not only taking advantage of having a greenhouse but having a more benign environment in my backyard than in the open garden.

The farmer I used to work for claimed that the best soil here is in the rockiest ground. My question is, how would they know if they can't get at it?

Steve