Earlier this week I planted all my peas & broad beans. There will be quite a few varieties this year. I forgot to mention them on my garden plans below this post. They will mostly be planted on the trellises and they will be replaced by the melons and what not once summer arrives. Here is what will be grown:- Sugar Sprint Snap Pea - these will be the main crop of peas. I like that you can eat the whole pod which greatly increase the pea harvest.
- Salmon Flowered Pea (shared by Matron) - These have a really nice salmon flower. From what I read they are best picked as a young shelling peas or use the older starchy ones for soup.
- Blue Pod Capucijners Pea - A purple podded pea that also is a starchy one.
- Oregon Sugar Snow Pea - Always nice to have a few snow peas in the spring.
- Crimson Flowered Broad Bean - I am growing out a bunch of these to replenish my seed stock.
They were all planted in rootrainers and placed on top of the fridge. The heat mat is in use at the moment so the fridge heat will have to do. As soon as they start germinating I will place them out in the coldframe. Hopefully in about 2-3 weeks they will all be planted out in the beds.
Today the first Iris reticulata's opened. There is hope that spring is coming.....
That looks like an interesting group of peas. I never start my peas indoors like you do. I do soak them some years to speed up the process - like this year when everything is so late. I hope it gets them off to a good start. I calculated that I would be planted almost 200 peas Even if I did half of that (which assumes that my way loses half the pea seed). 100 peas would be a lot to start.
ReplyDeleteThat would be alot to start indoors. I started 40 peas. The rootrainer's are really deep so I plant 2 per cell. 3 flats would start 192 peas at 2 per cell.
ReplyDeleteI have to start them indoors or the squirrels would eat all the seed.
Wow, beans this early? Interesting. I swore you were colder than me.
ReplyDeleteThe first year I planted snow, snap and shelling peas in the same bed. I couldn't tell them apart when they grew together. Now I only grow one variety, and yes, it's a snap for the same reasons you gave.
Intersting that you plant them indoors? I have always direct sowed them (did last weekend). I'm very curious to see if they do well for you. I'd love to plant mine inside. Oh, and my fridge is constantly in use in late winter, early spring. ROFL Just don't open the fridge and drop a tray on the ground. I was cleaning up dirt from the fridge forever!
Very interested in seeing how your peas and beans turn out. I've often thought of starting them indoors but everything I have read is pretty much against the idea. Peas and beans, I always direct sow, but next year, perhaps I'll be bold enough to give it a go?! Looking forward to following the progress of yours... :)
ReplyDeleteSo, how do you like the root trainers? I've thought about getting some. I start mine in long paper pots and they take right off when I plant them paper and all. I sure like the looks of the trainers though!
ReplyDeleteI'm growing snap peas for the first time, and melting sugar snow peas, which I grew last year and loved.
ReplyDeleteThat iris is gorgeous.
Lovely iris - I'm very fond of iris!
ReplyDeleteI loved the peas I did get last year, but they took up so much space for so little that I wonder if I'll do them again. Makes you wonder how commercial farmers do it!
ReplyDeleteTessa - This is the second year I used the rootrainers and I have no complaints. Really durable and they growing nice peas & beans.
ReplyDeleteGetting the peas underway is a definite sign that spring is here (or almost here!) and that iris is not a bad announcer of spring either! So pretty.
ReplyDeleteI am considering starting my pole beans and sugar snap peas inside this year. The ground is so soggy and cold this spring that if I wait for it to warm up enough to germinate the seed properly, I am likely going to be two weeks behind nornal planting times.
What lovely spring-y photos on a such a nice spring-y day! I just love iris reticulata - such an early bloomer - often through the snow.. intense blues and purple hues and very reliable.. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHope the salmon flowered peas do well for you. They have an unusual flowering habit, all the flowers come in a cluster at the top of the vine, about 4 or 5 feet high. I have planted your tomato seeds here, pleased to say the Pink Tie Dye tomatoes have germinated, making lovely big healthy seedlings!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful shade of blue. Or maybe it's part blue and purple. Whatever color it is, I like it.
ReplyDeleteThank You!
Thats a pretty good dark color on that iris, its what I really like about the viriginia irises or other dark purple irises.
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