Gas Pains

Tom grew up in Milwaukee, bartended in Wauwatosa in the '70s and moved here in 1984.

Commentary, observations and musings about the outdoors, life in general and maybe Tosa politics and personalities will be the order of the day. He savors a lively debate as much as terrific cooking.

The Garden Chronicles

Backyard Homesteading, Gardening, Growing Your Own Vegetables, Jung Seed Company, Friends

This past weekend a bunch of us got together for an organized bike ride.  Have I told you lately how well that new hip is working-out?  Getting back in the saddle was - in a manner of speaking - just like remembering how to ride a bike.

In any event there was some serious post-ride porch sitting that followed and I had to chase a couple of my friends out of the garden.

It's one thing to fence the asparagus to keep the blonde Lab from gnawing on the spargel. Twice I found humans munching on my peas!  They were filching the young tender pods and scarfing them right off the vine.

 

You're probably thinking that I'm coming down too hard on my pals because those peas DO look tempting.  But understand the circumstances.  Last year I planted peas not once - but twice - and both attempts resulted in a crop failure.  I had had no clue what went wrong.  Furthermore, there were no back-up peas in the freezer.  I was frustrated by the entire experience. This year I planted peas, radishes, beets and spinach on April 8th.  It was during a stretch of gloriously warm weather and I figured what the heck.  Everything came-up and then...KAPOW!  Two inches of snow covered my newly emerged crop. 

Miraculously everything arose unscathed after the snow melted.

Any number of hard frosts followed and the veggies never skipped a beat.  Since then we've dined on radishes and freshly-picked spinach.  The beets have been thinned and are looking great.  And the peas should be ready for shelling in about a week or so.  Understand my overprotective tendencies.

Later this season I'll plant another patch of peas.  The spinach will be continuously sown.  Inasmuch as they've shown a remarkable propensity to survive cold conditions I'm hopeful for shelling fresh peas and picking spinach for deer camp and Thanksgiving.  Maybe even Christmas.

For any of you gardeners - these are Green Arrow variety from the Jung Seed Company.  Soak them overnight in water before planting and use a granular inoculant when you put them in the ground.  Those same pea pirates were incredulous to learn that the spinach hasn't bolted yet.  Tyee Hybrid. First time I've tried it and it seems a winner.

Pumpkins are up.

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