Amy/peas & beans

Hi Amy,
I live in the NW part of CA in what is known as the 'foggiest place in USA'
(according to DOD/DOT).  Some consider this part of the country as NW and of
course others do not.  Our summers are usually literally dripping with fog
as the interior/inland heats up with our highs and lows 62F-55F.  We might
get a little sun in the afternoon.  Perfect for peas with an extended season
compared to other areas.  I'm finding that it pays to plant late ... I
usually get over eager and feed the new hatched buglings.  This year I
planted the garden the first part of May; this is "late" for me and the
garden is beautiful.  It could be because I added bat guano, or acquired a
bunny (pet & wool/fertilizer producer), or had an extended warm break in the
weather around planting time OR I finally planted at the right time ;)  What
ever the reason, it has been stress free year for me and the plants as far
as 'the garden' is concerned. Watering: I sprinkle right after planting and
as the seed beds just start to dry (I also have a very windy garden site
that gets hit by the ocean 'breezes').  Some days I water twice.  Other
times the wet fog cares for it.  Just as they (the seedlings) just up, I
give them a drink of fish emulsion.  I water/shower them every morning until
they start to climb (the peas) and then I try to give them more of soaking
drinks.  To water/when: I stick my finger in the soil to the middle knuckle,
if its dry, I water.  That's what works in my not-so-great soil (which I'm
working on).  I water in the early mornings.
This is the third year I've planted in this place.  The first year was a bit
here and there as that we were yanking out the landscaping.  I did Blue
Lakes and Kentucky Wonders for green beans along the fence plus some 'wren
eggs' (shelling beans) from a friend in AK.  The green beans provided but
not alot while the shelling beans did fabulous.  Last year, we had a
terrible infestation of aphids and in the end I just pulled the bean plants.
They were everywhere, from leaf tip to root ends.  The ants had decided that
they loved gardening in my grow boxes.  Knock on wood, I've yet to have a
trouble with peas.  I do successions of sowing of my peas as that not only
do my family of five eat from the garden but also the grazing neighborhood
kids.  This year I put in scarlet runner beans plus a variety pack from Rene
Seeds (purples, yellow wax and another I forget :(   ).  They look
wonderful, healthy and blooming profusely.
I garden organically.  I don't use inoculants any more.  I've tried it in
the past and could not really tell the difference for the added cost.  I use
remay for some things like lettuce if its getting real late in the year ...
I just don't want to give up and frosted letuce is none to appealing.  You
may want to investigating this for your peas.  The stuff that touches the
cloth gets nipped but it helps.  I've even used shade cloth and an old bed
sheets in a pinch.  I lay it out and weight down the edges (to keep from
blowing away) at sunset and pull it off before the sun lays on it too long
the following morning.
Don't worry about doing anything 'wrong' gardening!  For me, experimenting
is part of the fun!  I'm the only one in the neighborhood and probably the
whole town that tries to plant Inca Rainbow corn in containers, keep chile
peppers for more than a year, and brave enough to grow a veggie call Mangles
;)
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