Midwest tradition holds that gardeners plant their peas on Easter Sunday. Although Florida is beautiful, and my son and I are enjoying our vacation very much, I wish we were home to plant peas this afternoon. Spring has arrived early this year in Chicago, so it's most definitely safe to say- go ahead and plant your peas!! 

Don't forget, peas benefit from a good soak before planting. I presoak my peas in water for 6-12 hours. Before planting (1 inch deep and 3 inches apart) I drain them and coat them with pea/bean inoculant. Inoculants are bacterium that aid legumes in fixing nitrogen from the air. This nitrogen eventually ends up in the soil, feeding other hungry plants. In my experience, peas germinate more reliably when inoculated. 

Since peas are such great nitrogen fixers they have many happy garden companions. Peas, radishes and lettuces do well together, all of them finishing early enough that something else can follow. Corn benefits from the extra nitrogen boost, as do carrots and cucurbits. Just be sure to keep onions and other alliums out of the same bed. 

Happy Easter to those who celebrate, and Happy Spring to all! Get out there and plant those peas! 

Sow it Begins

Spring is almost here! Which means, time to start seeds! 

So far I've started yellow onions, leeks, shallots, thyme, oregano, calendula and cilantro. The onions and thyme germinated miraculously after 72 hours! It's all about atmosphere. The trays were set on a small rack next to the kitchen, and baby, I've been a cookin', so it's been hot in here! Since having germinated, I've moved them to a larger unit. The seedlings are now just inches from florescent bulbs near the balcony where the temperature fluctuates less. 

In just about a month I'll be hardening them off out there. In less than two months the alliums will be transplanted into my garden and my parent's garden. Tonight, I'm starting red and white onions, oregano, marjoram and petunias. I interplant onions, herbs and flowers with my vegetables, so I'm starting a fair amount.

Baby thyme planted 2/14/16

See the calendua back there, one ten cent packet sowed three cell packs, I hastily threw them in there, with twelve weeks until frost free, they'll be over mature come transplanting time. I'll also direct sow some in May.

Calendula 2/21/16

American Flag Leeks sprouted yesterday

My lovelies after one week, the tallest so far, Yellow Sweet Spanish Utah onions are in the lead, followed by Zebrune shallots, the leeks took their sweet time as they will in the garden, (they take 120 days to mature.)

Time to start thinking about spring! The first seed catalogs have arrived, and I'm researching varieties and starting a few sketches already. Creating this blog to share my work and document my experiences. Will post pictures of 2015 season soon!