The Day to Plant Peas

Thursday - 3/18/2010

I forgot to put in yesterday's entry a key item and also I have to make a concession that Mother Nature maybe doesn't really have a "cold heart" afterall.  In light of the great spring weather during the last week maybe I was hasty in making such an accusation.  We've been experiencing great spring weather, probably more like May weather this past week with the highs around 60 to 65 with a lot of sunshine and just perfect for working in the yard or garden.

I was thinking back to what my father used to say around this time of year which was that we should plant peas on St. Patrick's Day.  I don't remember if we ever did this but probably not as the ground is usually still too wet and cold but yesterday was perfect and spading the ground was easy. I got the shovel out and spaded enough ground to plant two rows of peas and left it to dry out most of the afternoon.  Late afternoon the ground was perfect to rake and plant.   I had to make a trip to Hartville Hardware to buy some seed as I didn't have any left from last year.  I picked Little Marvel which according to the tag on the bin had the shortest growing season of 63 days so around May 20th we should be eating fresh peas out of the garden if my father knew what he was talking about.  I didn't however check the phase of the moon  and all those other factors so critical with gardening.

All this is also predicated on whether the ground hogs, possum, deer, raccoons, etc., that use our garden as a lunch basket leave the peas alone.  I think that peas were one of the vegetables they left alone last year.  They sure loved the green beans.

Mother Nature - we're in your hands.  Sunday when we get the predicted rain mixed with snow we'll be complaining about the weather again but we know that it won't last.

Life is Good