Out like a lamb?

March did indeed come in like a lion. It snowed on the 1st and a few times after. I thought on Saturday I might put my pea seedlings in the ground. Then husband reminded me that last year I made him promise to not let me plant too early. I am a little eager. So he wouldn't let me. Then it snowed today. I guess they'll stay in my kitchen window until mid-April, when my seed starting guide says it alright to put them out. In the meantime, I patiently listen for the sound of bleating sheep.

My kitchen window. Mostly peas. See how professionally I use plastic cups?
Two types of peas. I had them labeled at first because they were both sugar snaps. The difference is obvious now that they are 10-12 inches, so I took off the labels. The two on the left are super sugar snaps and the two on the right are called sugar lace II (see all the lacey tendrils?) I've also planted Maestro, a garden pea. Here is the difference: Sugar snaps are fat and puffy and you eat the shell as well as the pea. Garden peas have a tough shell, and the peas inside get scraped out for green peas (the little round kind your kids pick out of their dinner). Snow peas, which I have not tried to grow, are the ones that are flat and barely have any pea at all inside, so it's mostly the shell you eat.

Seed Obsession

I ordered seeds from catalogs this year for the first time. I had two good reasons: there were more types to choose from, and they sent me $25 coupons. I ordered from Gurney's, Henry Field's and Burpee. It seems to me (after extensive studying of catalogs) that Gurney's and Henry Fields are either secretly the same company, or they share their pictures and prices which are exactly the same. Burpee is more of a flowers site, but has some veggies, too. I gazed at the pages longingly for quite some time before I made my informed and overzealous decisions. Then, I called my sister to share in the fun. This turned out nicely because there was no way I could plant 180 sets of onions by myself, but I couldn't choose between red, yellow and white, and had to get them all.

The seeds come in lovely white envelopes with instructions and info, but no picture, so I cut the pics out of the catalogs and tape them to the envelope as shown.

Next, I slip the seeds/envelope into a snack size zipper bag and label the top edge. I place my bags in a kid's shoe box and now I have a lovely "file folder" for seeds!
As you can see, my collection is large and happy and I have only tried planting half of them. Some are four years old, but grow nicely every year, and some (like brussel sprouts) I may never try. If however, I had more bare ground than my two flower gardens, I could feed my family and the neighbors quite well.

Seed Starting Guides

Friday morning was beautiful. The sun was shining and the snow had melted (mostly). Friday afternoon came and left us with another inch and a half of snow. What gives? I think I am getting a bit ahead of myself. It is barely March and I want to put in all my vegetables...now let's see what I can do. This is where a seed starting guide comes in handy. I have found two different ones on http://www.yougrowgirl.com that are helpful. Neither of them have everything I want to plant, but both of them have most. First one is a print-it-out and fill-it-in, using your calendar. Second is a type-in-a-date and it fills out for you (needs to be downloaded). These are weekly guides for starting seeds indoors or out and when they can safely be transplanted to your garden. For both, you will need to know your frost free date. Here in zone 5, northern Utah, it is May 8, with a 156 day season(before the first frost in fall).
Once I've done all my date-making, I have a weekly list of the veggies I can plant and--hooray--it's time for starting my peas indoors! Okay, I admit, I put them in 10 days ago.