HOME

Sugar Snap Pea Trellis

I’m trying my hand at gardening this year.  I made 2 square foot gardens (4ft x 2ft), and they fit quite a few plants.  The rest I am growing in pots because I have such limited sunny space in my yard.  Flanking the sides of my porch stairs are 2 large pots with sugar snap peas growing steadily up toward the sun.  I usually use these pots for pretty flowers, but this year I am being a bit more practical.

I filled the pots with organic potting soil, watered to moisten, then planted sugar snap pea seeds in each pot.  I soaked the seeds in water for a few hours before planting, then poked holes about 1″ deep and plopped the seed right in and covered with soil. I kept the soil moist and covered the pots with plastic on top, using clothespins to keep the plastic in place.  It created the perfect environment for my seeds to germinate, and kept the squirrels out! I planted 12 per pot, but thinned them down to about 6 per pot once sprouted.  I planted them on the 12th of April, they sprouted in about a week.

Growing Sugar Snap Peas in Pots

Just yesterday I made teepees for them to climb on.  It was super easy.  4 bamboo stakes (bamboo is strong and cheap!) tied at the top with jute twine.  I’m not sure exactly how to tie the jute up the bamboo stakes to give the peas support as they grow, but I did my best:) I read that they like to grow straight up, instead of tilting in toward the middle, so I made sure the first row of jute is right above the little pea plants.  They are already starting to vine around the twine, I will need to add a few more levels of jute quite soon!

My girls love watching these pea plants grow.  They are right at the front of our steps, so they see it every day, and each day they grow at least an inch.  They “oooo” and “ahhhh” over the growth when they get home from school.  I can’t wait to see little fingers snapping off peas and to watch them pop ’em in their mouths!  Hopefully, the plants will stay healthy so this can happen…so far so good!

I am continuing to love the idea of Square Foot Gardening and I THINK IT IS WORKING!  So far, I have planted some cool weather crops.  Its funny–before reading the book, I didn’t know there were cool weather and warm weather plants–I had a lot to learn!!  I planted spinach, carrots and radishes from seed.  Onions were sets, and I bought transplants for lettuce and red swiss chard.  Everything seems to be coming along just fine.   I’m a bit worried about the carrots, they just look so fragile!  I bought seeds for short, baby carrots.  I probably won’t plant carrots again, they are just so reasonably priced at the store, and they take up 2 squares, which will only produce 32 carrots.  I know my girls will have them eaten in a week, so it doesn’t seem worth it.

As you can see in the picture, I built a cage to keep out bunnies, squirrels and birds.  It has worked beautifully (see Square Foot Gardening book for directions). When I first planted seeds, I covered the cage in plastic using wooden clips to keep it in place.  It created a wonderful environment for the seeds to keep moist, warm, and safe from wind and hard rain.  It was not much fun to build… chicken wire is not my best friend, I needed a manicure after working with it!  I have to build one more cage for my second bed so I can get some warmer weather crops going.  I will also have to build some type of support for vining plants, like cucumbers and squash.

I have really liked the soil mix I am using.  It is called “Mel’s Mix” from Square Foot Gardening.  It is amazing how long it stays moist, and the texture is just perfect. It is 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 compost.  He gives details about the mix in the book, it is a little pricey up front, but each year you just have to add a bit more compost to your beds, so it is a one time expense.  I will be mixing up another 1/2 batch for my tomato, pepper and green bean pots.

I have tomato plants and pepper plants happy in my sunroom, ready to be planted out in pots, in a week or so. My little sugar snap pea seeds sprouted, they look so cute raising their little heads to the sky!  I also started some lettuce mix and basil transplants, and both have sprouted and are looking good. I bought herbs and will show you my herb pot soon, and write a post on our little strawberry patch. Whew.

So far, so good!!
Any comments, thoughts or advice is appreciated!

This post is linked to:
Saturday Is Crafty Day @ Along For The Ride
Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative
Made It Mondays @ The Persimmon Perch
Get Your Craft On @ Today’s Creative Blog
Show And Tell @ Blue Cricket Design
Sunday Favorites @ Happy To Design
Penny Pinching Party @ The Thrifty Home