This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Henry on snap peas in Pennsylvania

Henry wrote,
>I'd like to try planting snap peas probably a non-climbing type for the first
>time this year and would like to know if anyone has any recommendations for a
>good variety.

Last year was my first for peas.  I had good luck with 'Sugar Ann,' an old
variety (not sure but think it is a hybrid, just not one of the fasionably
new ones).  I grew it up metal trellising on the eastern edge of a sqft bed.
The plants only got about 18 inches high, but they bore a large number of pods.

>I'd also appreciate any ideas on when I should plant them in
>zone 5 (northeast PA) all I know is they like the cold and are, therefore,
>planted early in the spring. Our last frost is usually considered to be
>between May 15th and June 1st.

We had a really cold spring last year in the greater Wash. DC area (7a) with
a significant frost around May 10 that zapped all the newbies' outplanted
tomatoes.  Grizzled oldsters like me waited just one week longer and sailed
through the season in good shape.

However, all that wet and rainy weather meant I could not plant the Sugar
Anns at anything like the normal time.

They did quite well despite not going into the ground (seeds that is) until
April 23.

I don't think you can plant seeds reliably in dirt that remains bunched when
you squeeze a handful of it. That is, if it's too wet to unbundle after
squeezing, wait until the soil is drier.

Tempswise, I don't believe I would try pea seeds in your garden soil
(assuming the dirt is not too wet) much before April 10.

I always remember reading about St. Patrick's Day for seeding peas, but I've
never lived anywhere that the dirt was dry enough to consider this even if
temps *were* cooperative.

--Janet

--
To unsubscribe, send a message to: majordomo@lists.umsl.edu
with the single body line: unsubscribe sqft
Contact owner-sqft@lists.umsl.edu with any admin questions.
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index