The Fall EarthTainer Garden Oct 19: Tomatoes, Cukes, Snow Peas

rnewste · October 19, 2012

Finally got the Fall garden planted after a hectic Summer. This past Season, I picked my last ripe tomato on Feb 9, so if good weather patterns hold again this year, I've got 3+ months of harvest time.

Dwarf Project's Caitydid F5 left; Tastywine F5 right:

These are NOT small plants!

Goose Creek pair

Golf-ball fruit set as of today:

I had good results with Burpee's Big Daddy, so I rooted cuttings for the second planting:

Soren's MarNar F4 left; Parks Whopper right:

Momotaro left; Momotaro "Fight" right:

I've dedicated 16 'Tainers to Snow Peas over the Winter. They have done quite well in our cool climate. I've planted 2 rows of 5 pods each, with 3 to 4 vines per pod:

From my trials last Season, Oregon Giant II was the hands-down winner:

I am staggering the plantings every 2 to 3 weeks so I will get a spread spectrum of Snow Peas for several months:

I'm also trying to squeeze in another round of Sweeter Yet and Sweet Success cukes before the first frost hits, typically in late December:

And the Celery continues to produce a wonderful aroma when sitting out on the deck:

So, barring any fluke freeze over the next couple of months, life should be good....

Raybo

salix · October 20, 2012

Looking good, Ray. Have you ever considered planting some sugar snap peas along with your snow peas? (Much better, IMHO) There are some of shorter stature as well as the tall ones. The only things left in my garden are leeks, swiss chard and some amazingly hardy lettuce - and that will be IT until next June...

rnewste · October 20, 2012

Hi Salix,

Actually, I have no experience ever with Sugar Snap Peas - - do you have a recommendation on a Variety to grow?

I REALLY like Snow Peas in Asian dishes, so I've been fixated on this Variety of Pea. Guess I am missing something!

Raybo

salix · October 20, 2012

Oh my, I think you are in for a treat! Sugar snap peas taste like very yummy English shelling peas, except that you can eat the pod as well, and they are also very crisp, juicy, sweet and yummy. You may have to remove the top and bottom "strings", if they are not very young. Such a lot of flavour and fibre, and for very little effort. They are quite productive and freeze beautifully. My favourite is Sugar Snap (~6' tall), followed by Super Sugar Snap (also tall). We have also grown Sugar Lace and Sugar Ann (short, about 2'). Will try Sugar Sprint next year as well as the standby - it is supposed to have 'diminished' strings, making an already easy chore nonexistent. Well worth a try if you should have a spare Earthtainer hanging about. Oh yes, and they thrive in cool/cold weather.

tam91 · October 20, 2012

I've always grown Super Sugar Snap - why do you prefer Sugar Snap?

Pyrrho · October 20, 2012

I've grown Sugar Sprint (from Park's), and they are pretty much stringless. There is a string to peel off, but it's tender enough to eat with it on.

When I got good germination, an 8' row would get me about 7 quarts over a 2-3 week period.

I have a special stir fry recipe for them when they're in season.

dokutaaguriin · October 20, 2012

HI Ray,
Another vote for snap peas...
What is your fertilizer regime for peas? Do you add inoculant to your peas?
http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/store/to...ardeninoculant

Jeff

Redbaron · October 20, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnewste

so I've been fixated on this Variety of Pea. Guess I am missing something!

Raybo

yes

rnewste · October 20, 2012

Jeff,

I am applying a couple of products this Season. First, a Nitrogen Fixing product called Azos has worked well for me:

In addition, I am using Great White Mycos:

Lastly, I will be applying Actinovate as the plants further develop.

Last Season, the Snow Peas topped out at over 10 feet tall. I needed a step-ladder to harvest them:

I'm going to try to find some Sugar Snap Peas this afternoon to also plant, based on all of your recommendations. Thanks!

Raybo

salix · October 20, 2012

Hi Tracy - I do grow both, but I find that the Sugar Snap are sweeter and bear longer, if it doesn't get too hot midseason they just keep on going. I know that the Super Sugar Snap are powdery mildew resistant, but we are not usually bothered by such.

rnewste · October 20, 2012

Success!! I was able to find both the Sugar Snap (72 DTM) plus the Super Sugar Snap (65 DTM) at the local Nursery:

However, the job to plant 1 EarthTainer of each type that should had taken an hour to do, actually turned in to a 3 hour episode:

Seems when I put 4 or 5 seeds in his hand each time - - ALL of them were dropped into ONE planting hole.

Still trying to work on the concept of "distributed planting" for each seed.....

Raybo

Redbaron · October 20, 2012

Too cute!

Reminds me about when I was that age and "weeded" the garden.......of everything planted including the veggies!

You are giving him memories he will keep forever!

**mdvpc** · October 21, 2012

Ray-Looking great as always!

Riceloft · October 22, 2012

Indeed. I know I've missed the weekly updates, but this makes up for it!

JamesL · October 22, 2012

Looking good as always Ray! Thanks for posting!
Great to see you have a "Garden elf" to help with the work.

October 19, 2012	#1
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	The Fall EarthTainer Garden Oct 19: Tomatoes, Cukes, Snow Peas Finally got the Fall garden planted after a hectic Summer. This past Season, I picked my last ripe tomato on Feb 9, so if good weather patterns hold again this year, I've got 3+ months of harvest time. Dwarf Project's Caitydid F5 left; Tastywine F5 right: These are NOT small plants! Goose Creek pair Golf-ball fruit set as of today: I had good results with Burpee's Big Daddy, so I rooted cuttings for the second planting: Soren's MarNar F4 left; Parks Whopper right: Momotaro left; Momotaro "Fight" right: I've dedicated 16 'Tainers to Snow Peas over the Winter. They have done quite well in our cool climate. I've planted 2 rows of 5 pods each, with 3 to 4 vines per pod: From my trials last Season, Oregon Giant II was the hands-down winner: I am staggering the plantings every 2 to 3 weeks so I will get a spread spectrum of Snow Peas for several months: I'm also trying to squeeze in another round of Sweeter Yet and Sweet Success cukes before the first frost hits, typically in late December: And the Celery continues to produce a wonderful aroma when sitting out on the deck: So, barring any fluke freeze over the next couple of months, life should be good.... Raybo Last edited by rnewste; October 19, 2012 at 11:40 PM.

October 20, 2012	#2
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	Looking good, Ray. Have you ever considered planting some sugar snap peas along with your snow peas? (Much better, IMHO) There are some of shorter stature as well as the tall ones. The only things left in my garden are leeks, swiss chard and some amazingly hardy lettuce - and that will be IT until next June... __________________ "He who has a library and a garden wants for nothing." -Cicero

October 20, 2012	#4
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	Oh my, I think you are in for a treat! Sugar snap peas taste like very yummy English shelling peas, except that you can eat the pod as well, and they are also very crisp, juicy, sweet and yummy. You may have to remove the top and bottom "strings", if they are not very young. Such a lot of flavour and fibre, and for very little effort. They are quite productive and freeze beautifully. My favourite is Sugar Snap (~6' tall), followed by Super Sugar Snap (also tall). We have also grown Sugar Lace and Sugar Ann (short, about 2'). Will try Sugar Sprint next year as well as the standby - it is supposed to have 'diminished' strings, making an already easy chore nonexistent. Well worth a try if you should have a spare Earthtainer hanging about. Oh yes, and they thrive in cool/cold weather. __________________ "He who has a library and a garden wants for nothing." -Cicero

October 20, 2012	#5
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	I've always grown Super Sugar Snap - why do you prefer Sugar Snap? __________________ Tracy

October 20, 2012	#10
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	Hi Tracy - I do grow both, but I find that the Sugar Snap are sweeter and bear longer, if it doesn't get too hot midseason they just keep on going. I know that the Super Sugar Snap are powdery mildew resistant, but we are not usually bothered by such. __________________ "He who has a library and a garden wants for nothing." -Cicero

October 20, 2012	#6
Pyrrho Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 75	I've grown Sugar Sprint (from Park's), and they are pretty much stringless. There is a string to peel off, but it's tender enough to eat with it on. When I got good germination, an 8' row would get me about 7 quarts over a 2-3 week period. I have a special stir fry recipe for them when they're in season.

October 20, 2012	#7
dokutaaguriin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alberta, Canada Z3a Posts: 905	HI Ray, Another vote for snap peas... What is your fertilizer regime for peas? Do you add inoculant to your peas? http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/store/to...ardeninoculant Jeff

October 20, 2012	#12
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Too cute! Reminds me about when I was that age and "weeded" the garden.......of everything planted including the veggies! You are giving him memories he will keep forever! __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

October 21, 2012	#13
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Ray-Looking great as always! __________________ Michael

October 22, 2012	#14
Riceloft Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Parma, Ohio (6a) Posts: 299	Indeed. I know I've missed the weekly updates, but this makes up for it!

October 22, 2012	#15
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Looking good as always Ray! Thanks for posting! Great to see you have a "Garden elf" to help with the work.