#snappeas2018

March 21, 2018

Happy equinox! 🌗 and happy last frost! ❄ (for me lol)

Seedling update! On day 29 my tomatoes are doing okay. I’m still not sure which plants are which variety, but I have a hunch based on the fact that I had 2 Red Zebras and 4 San Marzanos, and 4 of my plants appear to have more reddish veins in their leaves. I think those are the San Marzanos. Aside from that, their growth seems to have slowed and their leaves are developing a purplish color, so I think it is time to feed them again. My best friend, who has a new apartment and patio, has been expressing interest in growing vegetables, and I offered my extra Red Zebra to her. She accepted, so now all my tomato plants will have a home! I’m glad I don’t have to cull any of them.

The snap peas are 12 days old and growing like weeds! I will probably have to transplant them soon because they are growing quite fast and their roots have been pushing through the bottom of their egg cartons for a week! I had intended to build a trellis for them, but my mom ended up buying me a trellis as a gift so I’ll be using that instead and seeing how well the peas like it. One of the seedlings is much lighter and yellow in color than the rest, for whatever reason, but it’s not the smallest plant and it seems to be doing all right so I’ll let it be unless it becomes clear it’s inferior somehow. I had 43 seedlings before I decided to cull 3 of them, which should fill up my two 22" planters nicely. I culled plants which I thought were too close to the other one in the compartment and were also much less vigorous than their twin.

I’m also sprouting sweet peas but they’re taking a long time to germinate, and I think that is because I’ve been lazy about keeping the seeds warm and moist. I have 10 sprouts now and I hope the other 24 seeds sprout with some extra care from me. The growth of the sprouts I do have has quickened since I gave them the heat mat back.

I transplanted my peas today! The only casualty was my albino seedling, but at least there weren’t more...for now, at least. If any of my peas don’t make it, at least I have tons more!

March 21, 2018

Here is a very informative post about how to grow sweet peas. These are an ornamental type of pea rather than the snap peas that we grow to eat, but they are related and generally thrive in the same conditions.

This year I’ll be starting my sugar snap peas indoors, under a grow light with lots of water, 6-8 weeks before the last frost and plant them in their permanent pots in Mid-April. Snap peas like moisture, and temps of 65-75F where they will get enough sun but be protected from hot afternoon sun. My own yard has a large, mature maple tree directly to its west that is perfectly positioned to cast shade in my yard as the day gets late.