This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy was my first dog and he thought the garden was his, even though I did all the work. Now Suzie and Charley follow in his footsteps. We're located near Boston (USDA zone 6A). I have a community plot, a backyard vegetable garden, fruit trees, berry bushes, chickens, and bees. I use sustainable organic methods and do my best to grow all of my family's vegetables myself.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
first day of spring
I am celebrating the first day of spring by planting broccoli and ignoring the reports of 8-10 inches of snow for tomorrow.
I'm sure your onion sets will be fine under this LAST bit of snow. Ha. I hope its the last...
The broccoli I'm planting today is seeds that will be indoors under lights for a month.
I would put out broccoli seedlings though, if I had any, under my winter tunnels. I checked yesterday and my plants under there are all doing well. Mostly lettuce, spinach, and arugula. Also a few cabbage, an overwintering rosemary, and some cilantro seedlings. No more room though. It's packed full.
I planted onions from seed a month ago and they are growing well inside under lights. I hope to plant some onion sets outside soon too - if this snow ever melts. There have been years when I've shoveled the beds clear to plant, but I've realized that doesn't really help and the soil still takes the same amount of time to warm up.
our summers are so mild I find I don't rush to start peas early...I spent the first day of spring nicking my sweet peas (4 varieties) and layering them in wet paper towels... it takes about 5 days until they get their little tails then I pot them in 2 inch pots and grow them on until they are ready to be pinched, we are supposed to have a dry week next week so I will pre-sprout my snow peas and snap peas the same way this week, but those I directly sow in the garden when they get their tails... nw coastal gardener
Pre-sprouting the peas?! I've never heard of that, but I'm going to give it a try next year. I've only ever done direct package into the ground. By the time they are producing, summer heat & downy mildew does them in. The fact that I usually don't get anything planted until May probably doesn't help them.
Are your lettuce tunnels holding up under the weight of the snow? Our forecast tonight-tomorrow morning is now 8" of snow :-/ The one good thing about snow this time of year - it's usually warm enough it doesn't stay long.
I have sprouted my peas indoors the past couple years due to last snow and chipmunks that eat the seeds. It has worked out well. I grow them a couple weeks in a lettuce container til the plants are about 6 inches tall then transplant them outside. I’ll probably start some seeds inside within the coming week. I’m planning to grow Oregon Giant snow peas and Sugar Spring snap peas this year. I’ve not tried indoor sprouting with sweet peas before, but will try that this spring.
My lettuce tunnels are holding up very well. The big one with plastic over PVC hoops is good and needs no extra effort before a storm. The new small one with just 2 layers of row cover over thin metal hoops needs extra protection before a storm. I have a corocated plastic cover I put over it. That blocks sunlight so I don’t leave it on all the tine. So far so good. I am not envious of your coming 8 inches. I hope it melts fast. I loved all the dripping sounds today with our melting snow. I think we are predicted to get a couple inches of snow tomorrow. Then something about 50sF next week. Sounds nice.
when you do the paper towel method for sweet peas remember to nick the outer skin of the seeds first ..I use a large fingernail clipper...check daily after 5 days....as soon as they get little tails plant individually in 2 inch pots...little tails pointing down...then I place them in a sunny window... they don't all tail at the same time so plant them as they do....when they have 3 or 4 sets of leaves pinch the tip... harden them off and plant them in the garden...watch for slugs..btw if after 8 days if they haven't tailed but the seeds have swollen plant them anyway...nw organic gardener
I forgot to mention...sweet peas do not like bottom heat... so leave the seeds in wet paper towels in their plastic bag just on a counter...and do not put them on a heat matt after they are planted....
I nicked my sweet pea seeds today and they are soaking in water overnight. Do you soak your seeds? I’ll put them in paper towels tomorrow then plant as they develop “tails”. I sure would love a fence full of sweet peas. I’m so excited to have your advice,I may stop and buy another packet tomorrow. I’ll plant my snow peas and snap peas inside in the next day or two too. My garden is ready for them. Next week or two will be perfect for pea seedlings.
I do not soak my sweet peas the wet paper towels provide enough water without rotting them...the last 2 days I have been transferring mine to 2 inch pots...I make sure the soil is damp and put a plastic cover over the flat and do not water again until I see them break ground...nw organic gardener
12 comments:
I planted onions yesterday and we are getting snow today! I'm not brave enough to set out broccoli though.
I'm sure your onion sets will be fine under this LAST bit of snow. Ha. I hope its the last...
The broccoli I'm planting today is seeds that will be indoors under lights for a month.
I would put out broccoli seedlings though, if I had any, under my winter tunnels. I checked yesterday and my plants under there are all doing well. Mostly lettuce, spinach, and arugula. Also a few cabbage, an overwintering rosemary, and some cilantro seedlings. No more room though. It's packed full.
I planted onions from seed a month ago and they are growing well inside under lights. I hope to plant some onion sets outside soon too - if this snow ever melts. There have been years when I've shoveled the beds clear to plant, but I've realized that doesn't really help and the soil still takes the same amount of time to warm up.
our summers are so mild I find I don't rush to start peas early...I spent the first day of spring nicking my sweet peas (4 varieties) and layering them in wet paper towels... it takes about 5 days until they get their little tails then I pot them in 2 inch pots and grow them on until they are ready to be pinched, we are supposed to have a dry week next week so I will pre-sprout my snow peas and snap peas the same way this week, but those I directly sow in the garden when they get their tails... nw coastal gardener
I love reading about your peas! I have not done well with sweet peas and its nice to read how you grow them.
Pre-sprouting the peas?! I've never heard of that, but I'm going to give it a try next year. I've only ever done direct package into the ground. By the time they are producing, summer heat & downy mildew does them in. The fact that I usually don't get anything planted until May probably doesn't help them.
Are your lettuce tunnels holding up under the weight of the snow? Our forecast tonight-tomorrow morning is now 8" of snow :-/ The one good thing about snow this time of year - it's usually warm enough it doesn't stay long.
I have sprouted my peas indoors the past couple years due to last snow and chipmunks that eat the seeds. It has worked out well. I grow them a couple weeks in a lettuce container til the plants are about 6 inches tall then transplant them outside. I’ll probably start some seeds inside within the coming week. I’m planning to grow Oregon Giant snow peas and Sugar Spring snap peas this year. I’ve not tried indoor sprouting with sweet peas before, but will try that this spring.
My lettuce tunnels are holding up very well. The big one with plastic over PVC hoops is good and needs no extra effort before a storm. The new small one with just 2 layers of row cover over thin metal hoops needs extra protection before a storm. I have a corocated plastic cover I put over it. That blocks sunlight so I don’t leave it on all the tine. So far so good. I am not envious of your coming 8 inches. I hope it melts fast. I loved all the dripping sounds today with our melting snow. I think we are predicted to get a couple inches of snow tomorrow. Then something about 50sF next week. Sounds nice.
Type o’s: “late spring”, “Sugar Sprint”, and “corrugated”. I caught and corrected the one that said “Ill probably fart some seeds inside....”. Arrgh.
when you do the paper towel method for sweet peas remember to nick the outer skin of the seeds first ..I use a large fingernail clipper...check daily after 5 days....as soon as they get little tails plant individually in 2 inch pots...little tails pointing down...then I place them in a sunny window... they don't all tail at the same time so plant them as they do....when they have 3 or 4 sets of leaves pinch the tip... harden them off and plant them in the garden...watch for slugs..btw if after 8 days if they haven't tailed but the seeds have swollen plant them anyway...nw organic gardener
I forgot to mention...sweet peas do not like bottom heat... so leave the seeds in wet paper towels in their plastic bag just on a counter...and do not put them on a heat matt after they are planted....
I nicked my sweet pea seeds today and they are soaking in water overnight. Do you soak your seeds? I’ll put them in paper towels tomorrow then plant as they develop “tails”. I sure would love a fence full of sweet peas. I’m so excited to have your advice,I may stop and buy another packet tomorrow. I’ll plant my snow peas and snap peas inside in the next day or two too. My garden is ready for them. Next week or two will be perfect for pea seedlings.
I will make a post soon about this pea starting info. So it will be accessible. Thanks!
I do not soak my sweet peas the wet paper towels provide enough water without rotting them...the last 2 days I have been transferring mine to 2 inch pots...I make sure the soil is damp and put a plastic cover over the flat and do not water again until I see them break ground...nw organic gardener
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