What's Growing in the Garden

[trc65]

We been getting enough rain lately so I haven't had to water the last week or so. We've also had a couple of hot 90+ days and I noticed one of my sugar pod peas is drying up already. Got a few pods off of it, but it seems too soon to be dying. I always have had problems germinating bean/peas so my harvest is delayed by 2-3 weeks. Although this year, it only took 2 plantings to get full rows.

So, to get a head start for next year, I'm considering starting the peas indoors and then transplanting when they get about 6" tall. Anyone do this? That way I could plant sooner even though the soil temps may not be warm enough for germination. That way, I'd get a longer harvest season.

I have the same problems with legume germ. Impossible to get treated seed anymore for small amounts.

The last two years I have germinated lima beans inside to transplant and it worked very well. Of course, limas are only planted on an 8-10" spacing and beans/peas 2-3" spacing. If you can plant enough inside to fill your row, shouldn't be any problem.

What I have done this year is do an in furrow fungicide application immediately before planting. Not recommending doing this as it can be expensive if you don't regularly use these fungicides, but it does work. Used myclobutanil and azoxystrobin. Myclobutanil is relatively inexpensive, but azoxystrobin isn't. Best stand of peas I've ever had and snap/lima beans look good too.

 

[trc65]

Storms separated and missed us tonight, so 4 day total stands at 6.75". Front moved through and sun came out about 7:30 tonight. Went out to pick black raspberries, but went to look at cherry tree first. After chasing bluejays out of the cherry, figured I better get the ladders and netting out and get it covered. Had to use two 15x45' nets, but the tree is now completely protected. Will be a pain to pick with all the netting, but will at least have something to pick.

Tomorrow will start with picking raspberries and cherries.

 

[djg]

I have the same problems with legume germ. Impossible to get treated seed anymore for small amounts.

The last two years I have germinated lima beans inside to transplant and it worked very well. Of course, limas are only planted on an 8-10" spacing and beans/peas 2-3" spacing. If you can plant enough inside to fill your row, shouldn't be any problem.

What I have done this year is do an in furrow fungicide application immediately before planting. Not recommending doing this as it can be expensive if you don't regularly use these fungicides, but it does work. Used myclobutanil and azoxystrobin. Myclobutanil is relatively inexpensive, but azoxystrobin isn't. Best stand of peas I've ever had and snap/lima beans look good too.

Just did a quick search, and man that is expensive. I just plant two 16' rows, so those 96? cell trays should work. I did try Little Marvel peas indoors years ago but the root system was poor. No fertilizer until transplanted. Now I use liquid while in the trays.

Are those sweet cherries?

 

[trc65]

Just did a quick search, and man that is expensive. I just plant two 16' rows, so those 96? cell trays should work. I did try Little Marvel peas indoors years ago but the root system was poor. No fertilizer until transplanted. Now I use liquid while in the trays.

Are those sweet cherries?

Sour. Montmorency.

 

[sprucegum]

We been getting enough rain lately so I haven't had to water the last week or so. We've also had a couple of hot 90+ days and I noticed one of my sugar pod peas is drying up already. Got a few pods off of it, but it seems too soon to be dying. I always have had problems germinating bean/peas so my harvest is delayed by 2-3 weeks. Although this year, it only took 2 plantings to get full rows.

So, to get a head start for next year, I'm considering starting the peas indoors and then transplanting when they get about 6" tall. Anyone do this? That way I could plant sooner even though the soil temps may not be warm enough for germination. That way, I'd get a longer harvest season.

I've never had problems getting peas to germinate, I just plant them early when there's plenty of moisture. Ninety degree weather is hard on peas and will do them in prematurely. Beans are another story I've had years that I barely got any because of poor germination a bird damage. The past several years I have put floating row covers on after I plant them and it's helped a lot. They retain a little warmth and moisture and prevent the birds from pulling them. The beans push the cover up as they grow and when they get too big for the birds to pull I remove the cover. I don't see why that would not work on your peas. The covers last 3 or 4 seasons and when they get ragged my wife uses them a couple more year to keep birds as Japanese Beatles off her blue berries.

 

[sprucegum]

@trc65

 

[djg]

I've never had problems getting peas to germinate, I just plant them early when there's plenty of moisture. Ninety degree weather is hard on peas and will do them in prematurely. Beans are another story I've had years that I barely got any because of poor germination a bird damage. The past several years I have put floating row covers on after I plant them and it's helped a lot. They retain a little warmth and moisture and prevent the birds from pulling them. The beans push the cover up as they grow and when they get too big for the birds to pull I remove the cover. I don't see why that would not work on your peas. The covers last 3 or 4 seasons and when they get ragged my wife uses them a couple more year to keep birds as Japanese Beatles off her blue berries.

Never thought of that. Mini green house. Then I could plant earlier. Thanks, it'd be a lot easier than transplanting individual plants.

 

[sprucegum]

Never thought of that. Mini green house. Then I could plant earlier. Thanks, it'd be a lot easier than transplanting individual plants.

It won't give you but just a degree or so of frost protection. It definitely helps with germination and pests. You can leave it on until the blossoms start but I like to remove it to cultivate and perhaps fertilize.