Peas are in!
 

Last weekend we had snow again and temps in the upper 20's. I began to think I wouldn't try any peas this year :no: Then we got these warm rains yesterday and a more seasonable outlook for the next ten days.

If it weren't for the raised beds I wouldn't try this year. They would rot before I could get them up. And... waiting much longer would mean they would likely fail in the heat. So, while I am wet from the rain, the snap-peas are in!.:)

(now to dry off a bit an go back out with the onions and spinach)

RebelRidin: Congratulation on planting the peas (in the rain). People often say things to me like: "Your crops always do so well, mine never do nothing. What are you doing different?" I always reply with "Meh. Dunno". [I don't have a clue how they are gardening.] But I know that I am planting during snowstorms, and weeding in the rain, and getting windblown and sunburnt. I'm going home covered with mud. I'm definitely not a fair-weather gardener.

[IMG]http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w406/JosephsGarden/Joseph_The_Farmer/joseph-beet-harvest.jpg[/IMG]

Nice Joseph! Mud is a good color for you.;)

Marsha

My peas are just starting to come up! Looking forward to some spring-like weather this coming week so they get a chance to grow! Like you, hoping it doesn't get too hot too soon. Fingers crossed.

mine just popped up yesterday, in the container, on the kitchen table.

last year they were killed by 24 degrees the night i planted them out, 1st time that ever happened. this year i hope to not repeat that.

tom

[QUOTE=joseph;401299]...I'm going home covered with mud. I'm definitely not a fair-weather gardener.
[/QUOTE]

Good looking harvest there :yes: Ginger is right mud does look good on you!

The peas gave me courage so when I thought the rain let up a bit I headed back out with spinach seed and then I went ahead with my leeks and onions. Of course, as soon as I did, it started to rain in earnest. I'm pretty well bushed tonight but I got some gardening in! ;)

I wish I dared get into the garden in the rain, but it's near muck with a lot of clay and the soil just doesn't tolerate any kind of activity on it.

I learned how to plant peas effectively from reading experienced gardeners' online blogs.
It is very reliable and easy, I get close to 100% germination.

1. Sow 8-12 seeds per seed trays (the standard rectangular blacks ones, 1"x3"x6"?). The seedlings should emerge within a few days, when they are about 2-3" tall, dump the whole tray out and plant directly into the garden beds as one whole block, do not try to divide them. You can space the blocks however far you see appropriate.

2. Instead of using seed trays, you can also use lengths of rain gutter. Plant seeds in two rolls, 1-2"inch apart.

U only harden them off briefly (1-2 days) before planting them out under plastics, as I have no extra space to keep them inside.

I find option 1 works better, cleaner when you try to take the blocks out. You can start carrots the same way.




[QUOTE=RebelRidin;401282]Last weekend we had snow again and temps in the upper 20's. I began to think I wouldn't try any peas this year :no: Then we got these warm rains yesterday and a more seasonable outlook for the next ten days.

If it weren't for the raised beds I wouldn't try this year. They would rot before I could get them up. And... waiting much longer would mean they would likely fail in the heat. So, while I am wet from the rain, the snap-peas are in!.:)

(now to dry off a bit an go back out with the onions and spinach)[/QUOTE]

I planted two rows of peas March 4th, and the temperatures were a lot cooler than normal.

One row was Ferry Morse Melting Sugar snow peas, and I had about 75 percent germination rate. Probably would have been better germination, but some seeds were eaten by birds and field mice. The peas popped out of the ground round about three weeks. Ground temps were around 40 to 45 degrees.

The other row was Wyatt Quarles Super Sugar Snaps. Lost some seed to birds and field mice too, but the germination was horrible. Probably about 15 percent came up. These were planted at the same time as the Melting Sugar. It's too late now to replant, so I am just going to dig up what little is there, and plant some Blue Lake green beans in about a week or two.

Got a nice stand going
 

Going out to plant in the rain paid off. The timing was just right. I got a nice stand of peas out of it. I would guess about 95%. That's good for peas in my experience. :yes:

The birds around here thought pea sprouts were delicious, so I have none. I didn't have that problem last year, my only other experience with peas. Ah well, live and learn.

Prepping the pea rows in the fall helps me get an early start but this year is my latest first planting ever because of the snow- March 21st. That row has plants a couple inches tall now and today the March 31st planting is emerging. Yesterday I planted some more- I LOVE peas!

Riceloft- the pea rows get covered with tunnels of old chicken wire for just that reason- corn, too.

kath

Do you put a trellis in later then? I've read that peas don't like their root zone disturbed, so I put the trellis in, then plant the peas. I'm not sure how I'd get them covered with that in the way.

I'm fortunate in that I have near zero problems with warm blooded pests. Our cats are the worst offenders of those. When they see me dig in the beds they think they should too! So far this year they're behaving themselves. As they get older I think that helps too....

I did have something peculiar with the tops of peppers getting nipped last spring. I thought it might be birds but I never found out for sure....

Well I found out what's destroying my peas. Voles! Never seen them before ever. I have numerous holes all around the edges of the garden, and holes right down the two rows of peas.

Got some Ortho Home Defense Max Press 'N Set Mouse Traps because they have super reviews. They are reusable too. I baited one with peanut butter, put the trap with bait right at the hole entrance, covered it with a clay pot with the drainage ducts taped, and within three hours I caught one. I got six set now all with clay pots set over the top of them.

One package has two traps, and Home Depot stocks them for $3.97 a pack. I read that apple was the best bait, but peanut butter works too. These voles have to go because they eat every thing.

[QUOTE=Riceloft;404472]Do you put a trellis in later then? I've read that peas don't like their root zone disturbed, so I put the trellis in, then plant the peas. I'm not sure how I'd get them covered with that in the way.[/QUOTE]

Yes, later I'll set up a trellis using 4' wire attached to t-posts. When sowing, I leave a 6" space marked with a small stick where the t-posts will go. When the peas are tall enough that the birds aren't interested anymore, we remove the wire tunnel and set up the trellis.

You could use pieces of lightwt. row cover to keep them off of small areas in between trellis posts, too.

kath

I'm growing Sugar Ann snap peas for the first time this year, this is so exciting, especially since snap peas are selling at my grocery store for $4 a lb! I have them started in peat pots right now, will eventually transfer them to a long, rectangular container like a bigger version of a window-box. What types of peas are you all growing?

[QUOTE=Vespertino;404613]I'm growing Sugar Ann snap peas for the first time this year, this is so exciting, especially since snap peas are selling at my grocery store for $4 a lb! I have them started in peat pots right now, will eventually transfer them to a long, rectangular container like a bigger version of a window-box. What types of peas are you all growing?[/QUOTE]

I wanted to grow some of the Sugar Ann because they don't have to be trellised, but I could not find any in my neck of the woods.

I am growing Melting Sugar snow peas in one row, and the other row was Super Sugar Snaps. The Super Sugar Snaps were a bust germination wise, and between the horrible germination, and the voles eating the seed I am lucky to have the row of Melting Sugar left. Going to dig up what Sugar Snaps are left, and plant Blue Lake green beans since the trellis is already there.

I think in TX peas should already be in the ground. Peas are a little tricky because they need to be grown in cool,spring weather.
I plant mine in November. They are slow for awhile but we have plenty of peas in Feb. By March the peas are getting powdery mildew and dying from heat.

Snippits: I didn't see them in stores around here either, so I ordered them from Johnny's seeds. I've been very disappointed in the seed offerings at local stores and nurseries overall, so I've found that I just order them online. I was thinking of ordering the super sugar snaps from Johnny's but decided on the Sugar Anns for the same reason you pointed out- they don't need to be trellised. They also don't grow very tall, and I'm going the container route this year so the small size was just what I needed. I look forward to reading your updates on the supersugar snaps and the melting sugar snow peas.

Tracydr- Yes I think I may have started the peas a little late, but I started them 3 weeks ago and they have happy little leaves- I just need to move them from the peat pots into the planter. I will probably do that next weekend. Next year I will be starting them a bit earlier.

I caught three voles yesterday during the light of day, and I did not catch any during the night. Moved my Ortho traps and clay pots to some different holes, and going to bait those with some apple. Caught the three with peanut butter baited traps.

Neighbor down the street stopped by, and asked me what I was doing with the upside down clay pots sitting around the garden, and I told them that I was trapping voles. They said they were not going to try and plant again this year because something was eating all the seeds they planted, and that there were holes all over the ground in and around their garden area.

I showed them all the broom stick size holes around my garden, and the technique I was using to trap them, and where to get the Ortho traps the cheapest which is Home Depot. They thanked me numerous times, and said they might have a garden after all this year.

I garden to can and freeze various vegetables to supplement my income, but voles were putting a big dent in my plans.

When I lived in Manhattan I had a mouse problem (consequence of old building with dirty neighbors) and what always worked for me was a kernel of popped popcorn dipped in peanut butter placed in a sticky trap. It rarely failed to catch them, they love peanut butter.

Sorry to hear about the voles, but it sounds like they enjoy the same stuff the NYC mice liked. I hope you catch them all so your veggies can grow in peace! I'm so sorry to hear the infestation is bad enough to effect your canning. My neighborhood has a rat infestation problem, I'm not looking forward to combating that problem. I'm trying to think of ways to attract raptors to my yard that the HOA will allow (owl houses, raptor perches). With luck I'll be able to put in a few structures and have the raptors help keep the critters under control.

[QUOTE=tjg911;401333]mine just popped up yesterday, in the container, on the kitchen table.

last year they were killed by 24 degrees the night i planted them out, 1st time that ever happened. this year i hope to not repeat that.

tom[/QUOTE]
I planted maxigolt shelling peas a week ago after soaking for a couple days and many of them are coming up now. We've had a lovely warm week and it's likely to get to 80 today. But the forecast for lows midweek is 25. The peas are in an Earthbox. Do you think I should cover them or even consider moving them inside for the cold spell? This is my first experience with both peas and self watering containers. I really don't know how much cold they can handle.

If it were me I'd bring the earthbox indoors. 25 degrees would probably kill any new pea shoots just beginning to peek out of the ground, and if it's that cold long enough the water inside your reservoir might freeze up.

How tall are all of your peas now? I'm 7a in Virginia Mountains and my tall vining peas are about 6 inches and my dwarf peas are about 3 inches.

Farmers Market grower said peas would be ready in 3 weeks here. I don't think, with mine being so small, that they wil be ready in 3 weeks. I have about 400 pea plants in now.

I'm in 7b Tidewater. My peas are only about two inches tall right now. Our peas are usually ready the end of May, beginning of June.

[QUOTE=ohiofem;404725]I planted maxigolt shelling peas a week ago after soaking for a couple days and many of them are coming up now. We've had a lovely warm week and it's likely to get to 80 today. But the forecast for lows midweek is 25. The peas are in an Earthbox. Do you think I should cover them or even consider moving them inside for the cold spell? This is my first experience with both peas and self watering containers. I really don't know how much cold they can handle.[/QUOTE]

My peas were just beginning to come out of the ground around the third week of March, and they were only about inch tall or so. It got to 26 degrees one night, and the cold did not hurt them. But I don't think there was a hard frost that night either.

From what I read some where(can't remember), mid twenties or roundabout and they should be ok. I would at least cover them before dark set in because that will help retain some heat, and keep the frost off them.

Here in Houston, TX, I ate my first sugar snap pea this morning, right off the vine. I planted the in the beginning of February.

snap peas
 

We just finished eating our first crop (planted in Dec). Our second crop is just starting to bloom. Sometimes things just work.:surprised:

Hoefarmer

Please tell me about the birds pecking and losing interest, and your tricks to protect your peas. I sowed Sugar Snap and a snow pea that I can't think of the name right now. They went in on March 15, the recommended date for Nebraska. Very early!

I soaked them for two days and germination was excellent. They went through the 30 80 35 temperature swing last week and are now about 4 inches. They're in a raised bed 18 inches off the ground and a sneaky vole lives in the area. This is my first pea attempt and I don't want to share!

- Lisa