Sugar snap peas maturing

An update. The sugar snap peas managed to grow after I tented them to keep them from being eaten by creatures, probably birds.

They look like this today.


Two months ago, they were much tinier.

One tent

Sugar snap peas emerging, finally

I haven't had much luck with sugar snap peas. Here's the rundown.  Yup, I use new unexpired seed lots. Brand new seeds. From Renees. Yup, I soak the peas overnight until they get all bloaty looking and suck up all the water. Yup, I till the soil, adding fresh compost and veggie fertilizer. Yet, I find very few peas coming up each time.

This time, I went with a different angle. Look below.

I found these food tents absurdly cheap at Big Lots!  I thought they would be a great temporary cover for new shoots, especially since I grow my crops in little spaces in between things.

And guess what? Shoots I have!

The shoots are still there a week later!

Because I share a garden with not just zillions of slugs but with birds who watch me from a distance and they know who they are, I have a strong suspicion the birds may harbor gourmet tastes, namely for pea shoots.

Sugar snap pea pods maturing

My sugar snap peas are maturing, ready to be picked soon. I think they are much sweeter than even the sugar snap peas from the famous Farmers' Market in this area. I rarely get to cook them because we eat them soon as I get them home. As the days are getting warmer, we'll see the end of sugar snap peas soon. I'm thinking it's time to plant green beans and zucchini for the summer and hope it's not too late.

Family: Fabaceae, Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon

Sugar snap peas

I still haven't figured out the best way to trellis sugar snap peas. This time, I placed tomato cages, the ones that topple over as soon as your tomato gets large and bushy, upside down on the ground, anchored with a few poles and then planted the peas inside. Needless to say, I rarely use those tomato cages for growing tomatoes.

Family: Fabaceae
Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon