When to plant peas in a container

18 years ago

I keep adding to my planned container garden! Just hope I'm not being TOO ambitious...

All this thinking about starting my own garden has stirred up memories of my Grandmas ginormous garden, and the sugar snap peas my sisters and I would grab out.

I did a little researching, and it says to plant peas as soon as soil is workable. Since I'm not going to be planting in the ground, my "soil" will be ready whenever I am. Is there any more definite timetable of when it's ok to put out peas? I've also seen St. Patrick's Day, but I don't know if that applies to Z5, or in warmer climes. Maybe I could get a big containter and plant a few seeds everyweek and see what works. I figure that would help extend harvest too... But still, I'd like to have an idea of how many weeks before last frost.

On the plus side, my picky eating Mom, who lives with me, also remembers sugar snap peas fondly. So now I'm bound and determined to grow them, since I know she'll eat them. Now if I could just convice her that patty pan squash tastes the same as the straight squash that we usually get. She doesn't like the shape of them... *rolls eys*

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Comments (4)

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
18 years ago
When your soil will remain reliably above 45* is best time to plant peas, so if you're expecting a really cold night after planting, bring them into the garage or find another way to keep them warmer. At colder temps, you risk seeds rotting before germination.

I find it exceptionally cool that you're doing it for mom - even if you are at odds over the Patty Pan. ;o)

Al
suzi7
18 years ago
i say wait till after the last frost date in your area. peas grow fast and you don't have to be in hurry. you can start now indoors but peas do well directly seeded, so why bother.
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rain1950
18 years ago
Since it's a container and not in the ground, you could begin now. Presoak the seed in warm water to kick start germination. Plant and make a tent over the container with clear plastic.
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
18 years ago
I agree with Rain. Peas are quite frost hardy and it would take extremely low temperatures to freeze them out. Since you really don't care what soil temps are (except container soil temps) plant now. Peas do poorly once temps get too warm, and your container soil temperatures will be well above ground temps.

You can also add an ounce or two of (3%) hydrogen peroxide to the warm water you soak the pea seeds in. H2O2 is water with an extra atom of O- (oxygen) loosely attached. When it contacts organic material, it gives up the extra atom of O- which combines with another atom to make O2. The added oxygen enhances seed metabolism - it is also a strong oxidizer & will kill any bacteria/fungi on seed coats.

Good luck.

Al

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When to plant peas in a container

Comments (4)

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

suzi7

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rain1950

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

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