Planting peas

 

My dad, who has lived his entire life in northwestern Pennsylvania, swears that you're supposed to plant peas on St. Patrick's Day. It seems ridiculously early, especially since we often have snow in mid-March. But the least-snowy March on record (yay!) meant that we could get outside a lot earlier than usual and clean up some of the raised garden beds.

   

Which meant I could give this early-planting thing a try. I'm kind of picky about seeds, but I like Burpee, and they're available at Target. I order most of my seeds (and mostly from Johnny's), but when the urge to plant strikes, I need instant retail gratification.
 

 

While I was buying pea seeds, I figured I might as well give a few other cold-tolerant crops a try. I was particularly encouraged by the instructions on the spinach, which said that spinach enjoys even harsh conditions. Crazy stuff, that spinach. It should enjoy this weekend. One of the forecasters this morning changed his prediction from "nasty" to "miserable." It seemed a little ironic that I kept thinking I had to get the seeds planted because it's supposed to snow Saturday. The seeds are tucked underneath the soil now, and I'm hoping they just sleep through whatever comes our way this weekend.

 

I thought I'd better plant sweet peas, too. I think some of this seed-buying was inspired by my new yardstick, which I got for 75 cents at an estate sale today. I bought the one and only thing worth buying at the sale, unless you happened to be in the market for turtle collectibles. I'd never seen turtle knick-knacks before, and I don't wish to again. I'm going to another sale tomorrow, because hope springs eternal. If it didn't, I wouldn't have been out in the garden on April 3.

Comments

[LiLi M.]

I just needed this post; a blogger gave me some sweet pea seeds, but now I need to know when (that will be now, I think just learned that) I can put them in the ground and what is the distance between the seeds? Please help me!
Good luck on sales tomorrow!

Ps we had snow last Easter! And you have to know that a white Christmas is quite exceptional over here.

[Amy S.]

I heard on Martha Stewart that you are supposed to plant them on St. Patrick's Day last year. So I tried it and sure enough it worked!Happy Planting!

[black eyed susans kitchen]

As soon as our pea plants started to sprout, the rabbits ate them...and the deer ate the tulips! Very frustrating. Hope yours come up good...take a picture when they do.
Susan

[susan]

i can't wait to get out garden going! i didn't know you had to plant some of these so early. i better get crackin'

[laurie]

At least you found a yardstick this a.m. I hit 6 sales and gone pretty much zilch (altho a couple good free things - post coming) And I think your dad was right about peas - I have always planted sweet peas on St. Patty's day (or thereabouts) with good results. (I also put my seeds between wet papertowels for a day or two (indoors) so the hard casing opens a bit - don't know where I learned that - but it works!!!

[Wendy]

We just got our garden in the ground! Running a little late, but I think we'll be good. It's not like I have frost to worry about, lol. Still need to plant our corn and I want to try butternut squash to make into baby food when Morgan gets bigger. I need to get some flowers, too!

[susan]

pretty ruler! what is it about old rulers that are so appealing??? i love them too. you reminded me of my fil with all this planting...maybe i need to run over and check the progress of the rhubarb??? turtle collectables huh? actually my father used to own raise turtles....dont know why i wrote that??? i know lettuce loves cold weather, maybe i will try to get outside and check our beds before we get any more snow!