peas

26 Feb
2013
first peas of the spring

Here comes spring!

I know. I know. It’s still February. Some of you are digging out from yet another snowstorm, while others are already enjoying homegrown harvests from your year-round gardens. And then, of course, it’s high summer for you Southern Hemisphere types. But, here in the United States, in USDA Zone 7a, ...

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20 May
2012
pea flower

Peas, in bloom

Today was one of those never-sit-still kind of days. I delivered some extra seedlings to a friend who’s excited to plant her first vegetable garden, helped repair the deer fence around my mom’s garden (Again! Those @#&* deer!), and planted 36 tomato seedlings. It was a busy day. A wonderful, ...

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23 Mar
2012
Starting peas indoors is a great way to get a jump on the gardening season and avoid the risk of hungry hungry slugs. This would also be a great activity for young children, because the seeds are big and easy to handle, and the seedlings sprout in just a few days.

Starting peas indoors (aka. How to outsmart those damned slugs!)

It’s come to this. I am starting pea seedlings indoors, on the dining room table. Peas. I can’t quite believe I am doing this. I start all sorts of seedlings indoors. Tomatoes and peppers? Sure. Eggplants and basil and sweet potatoes? Absolutely. But peas? Who starts peas indoors? Well, me, ...

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13 Mar
2012
weeding

5 things toddlers can teach us about gardening

Last week, on a warm and sunny babysitting day, I asked the three-year-old nephew if he wanted to help me plant some peas. His response — delivered while spinning and jumping and grinning — was pretty clear: ”Yes! Yes! I do I do I do!” So, we found a bent trowel ...

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22 Feb
2012
Got seeds? Community seed swaps are a great way to try new vegetables, flowers and herbs.

Onions and peas and seed swaps! Oh, my…

It’s still February, but winter seems to be over for Virginia. At least, for my part of Virginia. The northern part, but not quite the suburban part. They say we could hit 70° this week. I’d call it a winter thaw, but that doesn’t seem right. It hasn’t exactly been ...

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