It always takes a little while for me to decide where to plant the peas.
There is no doubt about it, the thrill of the first emerald green shoots emerging from the soft soil, is almost as exhilarating as the taste of the sweet pods that will follow in early July. But it never lasts. Shortly after the first harvest, the plants fade, a victim of the heat, turning an unhealthy and unsightly shade of lime green then yellow. When yanked and fed to the compost pile, a spring crop of peas leave behind a gaping hole in the garden – just as everything else is responding to the summer heat with great pleasure.
It helps to determine the structure of the garden before planting anything- which is especially true with peas. Standing back to visualize how the vertical crops will enhance and define the kitchen garden, sets the stage. Balancing productivity with aesthetics is my way to keep the kitchen garden organized – nothing goes into the ground without careful consideration to the overall plan and how it will look throughout the whole season.
This morning after staking the peonies, and while pea seeds soaked in inoculants (a rhizobia bacteria to enhance legume productivity), I pushed 6 foot bamboo poles into the garden along the back edge of the garden and planted pea seeds at the base. While the ladder was out, I laced together two sets of 8 foot bamboo poles for the runner beans, and set up the cages for the tomatoes that will follow in a few weeks.
I’ve learned to listen to my peas, and they will tell me where to plant them.
