It’s not intentional, I know that, but listening to Shawn Connell of GrowNYC talk about planting, I can’t help but think that plants are all, in their own way, real divas. We’re talking about planting, specifically what we should be putting in the ground right now (even though he and I are still shivering in 40 degree temperatures and high wind at his teaching garden on Governors Island in the middle of New York Harbor), and from his encyclopedic memory he’s rattling off a list of who likes it chilly, who likes it hot, who likes it sunny, who likes it shady, who likes to climb, who likes to hang out in the dirt. Plants, it turns out, are picky. But Shawn only has two guiding principles for what you should be planting: “We pick varieties that are delicious and produce a lot,” he says.
With our raised beds all ready, we start, then, with some of the stars of the early spring garden. Like peas.
A season's planting calendar revolves around the frost date: The day after which there shouldn't be any frost in your region (many agricultural departments at universities publish frost dates for local areas; a simple Google search should uncover yours). That date dictates when plants can safely go into the ground. But peas, because they are awesome, can go into the ground as soon as it isn't frozen—even before the frost date. They can HANDLE IT.
From the way he talks about them, you can tell that Shawn really digs peas, and not just for their flavor. Shawn likes the Oregon Giant variety of snow pea in particular (technically, snow peas are any peas eaten in whole pods) because of their sweetness and high yield. If you want to grow the kind of peas that need to be shelled, go for it; they’ll just take a little longer to mature.
Shawn plants his seeds an inch deep and an inch apart in the soil and then allows around 60 days for them to flower, and then for those flowers to turn to pods for picking. He recommends you stagger the timing of your pea plantings—pea pods are pickable for around two weeks before the plant is done for the season, so if you stagger their planting dates (say, a week and a half apart), you'll have fresh peas for longer periods of time.
Another great thing about peas: They are good for the soil. They replenish it with nitrogen after other plants (like those greedy but delicious nightshades: tomatoes, peppers) take it all away for themselves. So plant peas where you've previously had tomatoes (or vice versa) to ensure your soil's health.
Lastly, remember that peas like to climb, so rig some string or netting next to the plants to give their tendrils something to grab on to.
Working with Shawn, I’m realizing that gardening isn’t really for people—like me—who take an instant gratification approach to food. I tend to want what I want when I want it. But when I complain to Shawn that 60 days is a lot to wait for peas, he reminds me that there are vegetables we can plant right now that will be pickable almost immediately.
That's the beauty of leafy greens. They don't mind the cold and some grow quite quickly. Try loose-leaf varieties, the kinds you snip and collect by the leaf rather than by the head (like mesculin). You can sometimes get three or four clippings from them before it gets too warm and they bolt, or flower. Some seed companies sell lettuce mixes that can be planted altogether and yield a whole salad in one place. Shawn recommends Johnny's Ovation mix, which includes red mustard, mizuna, tatsoi, and arugula. Start snipping around three weeks after planting, then every two weeks after that until they stop growing back.
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As the wind whips through the garden, almost toppling a pea trellis, Shawn remains optimistic about the weather. “I just want it to get warm!” he says. “And I know it will.” But since his garden is a teaching garden, and school kids are scheduled to come whether the plants grow on schedule or not, he has already come up with a backup plan. “If it stays cold, I’m going to the store and buying potatoes and shoving them in the dirt. No one will know!”
Missed the first installment of Building a Garden? Find it here.
It's essential to plant them early enough in spring so they mature while the weather is still cool! (This means planting in most parts of the United States and Canada in February, March, or April.) However, they can also be grown as a fall or winter crop in warmer regions.
It's essential to plant them early enough in spring so they mature while the weather is still cool! (This means planting in most parts of the United States and Canada in February, March, or April.) However, they can also be grown as a fall or winter crop in warmer regions.
Avoid planting peas near onions, garlic, and potatoes. These plants can compete for nutrients, space, or even release substances that inhibit pea growth.
Planting: Sow seed in garden 1 to 3 inches apart in early spring when soil temperatures reach at least 40 degrees F. Pre-germinate seed for earlier harvests (more information below). Plant in wide rows, about 18 inches apart.Double rows may be spaced 8 to 10 inches apart in rows 18 to 24 inches on center.
Peas come in two heights: bush peas and climbing peas. All benefit from some kind of support. Though bush peas are only 2 to 3 feet tall, they will flop on the ground if you don't give them something to climb on. Climbing peas may reach 6 to 8 feet tall and they need a sturdy trellis.
Peas require full sun to thrive — that's six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Peas will grow in partial shade, but not as vigorously. Peas enjoy rich, well-drained soil with a fairly neutral pH, between 6 and 7.5.
Another reason to plant companion plants is to provide nutrients that the tomato needs. Beans and peas are legumes which can fix the nitrogen levels with their roots. The tomato is a heavy feeder and will benefit from the nitrogen rich soil. Other companion plants have an odor that will repel pest insects.
Then sow your peas very close together in the trenches. Unlike many vegetables, they will perform better when crowded and even touching. There is no need to come back and thin – just sow and let 'em grow!
Peas grow best in soil with a pH between 6 and 7.5. Use well-rotted manure or compost at planting. Continuous use of high phosphorus fertilizer, such as 10-10-10 or 15-30-15, or high rates of manure or manure compost results in phosphorus buildup in the soil.
Peas like a sunny position and good drainage. They prefer neutral to slightly alkaline soil, so if your soil is acidic, add lime. Weed the ground thoroughly, then fork in lots of well-rotted manure or garden compost – at least two bucketfuls per square metre/yard.
If you have any circular metal tomato cages around, those are just right for trellising snap peas in a bigger pot (they also work well for cucumbers and other vining plants – not just tomatoes!). They often are available in some fun colors, too.
Peas are very sensitive to root disturbance, so they should always be direct seeded right where you want them. Make sure to choose a location with plenty of sun. Like most vegetables, they appreciate well drained soil high in organic matter, so it's a good idea to amend your garden beds with compost before planting.
Peas are one of the first crops you can plant in the spring. They like cool weather. As soon as the soil is workable (meaning, the soil is not frozen and not soaking wet) you can plant. Depending on where you live, that means you can plant peas sometime between mid-February to the end of May.
As soon as the soil is workable (meaning, the soil is not frozen and not soaking wet) you can plant. Depending on where you live, that means you can plant peas sometime between mid-February to the end of May.
For Zones 3-5 and 6 depending on weather, green peas and sugar peas are good to plant in June, and will produce a great summer crop of fresh, crisp peas.
Most varieties of peas need about 60 days of growth before harvest. But they will stop growing and not produce flowers or pods once temperatures get above 85°F, as often happens in June. Although the plants do need full sun, peas produced in hot weather may also have poor quality.
Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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