pea plants

Not my best year for peas. I'm trying to grow shell peas. I planted three different varieties (Cascadia, Oregon Giant and something else). (I even used pea innoculant on all.) Usually sugar snap (Johnny's Sugar Sprint) do very well in my garden. I've tried shell peas several times before and they have never done well. Not sure why. Maybe shell peas need more sun?

Next year I think I'll go back to Sugar Sprint and just let the pods get big and shell them. We really like fresh shell peas!!

picking peas

peas are almost ready!

I planted 4 varieties of peas this spring. Probably too close together, but so far they're OK. The nice thing is that they are blooming and forming peas in succession. I'm looking forward to different types of peas ripening at different times. I hadn't realized this benefit of planting multiple types.

pea flowers

I planted 4 varieties and the first to bloom is Cascadia. An enation-resistant Northwest bred snap pea variety. (What on earth is enation???)

frosted peas

My pea plants got nipped a bit by the frost last night. The edge leaves on the most exposed area look singed. The frost also got my little marigold seedlings that I had planted out. I don't think they will survive. I have more at home and will have to replace them. Everything else was fine: broccoli, onions, cabbage, radish, fava beans and carrots.

I think this will be our last frost. Its a late one this year.

pea sprouts

They're up!

pea trellis??

I checked on my peas yesterday and they're not up yet. I should put up a trellis soon. It works best to put it up when you plant the peas or very soon after sprouting. I haven't decided what to use yet. After using 10 or 12 different trellis solutions, I have yet to find one that I really like. I have 3 types planted so far: 2 ft, 2 1/2 ft, and 3 ft vines. Any suggestions?

pea planting day

Happy St Patrick's Day! Its a beautiful sunny day - perfect to plant the peas! And some fava beans. I have my seed packages out. And the inoculant.

I'll also spread some clover seed in the squash and corn beds to see if I can get any cover crop growth to turn under before planting these beds in late May.