Its a bit mad to be buying compost from Germany but that is the only certified organic stuff available locally, so we have been making some of our own. Here is Mike sieving a mixture of composted farm manure and soil from the polytunnel together, to make a potting-on compost. We will still use the imported compost for small seeds as the home made stuff is a bit weedy. Maybe we will work out a way of killing the weed seeds but time is a real limiting factor at this time of the year. 
The peas in the photo are growing in our home made compost in the polytunnel. We are experimenting with several varieties to see which perform best as cut and come-again salad or stir-fry pea shoots. The Winterkefe, were quickest to emerge in the low, early February, temperatures and look almost ready for cut. I predict that cut-and-come again peas are going to become fashionable.
I'm very interested in which would make a good pea shoot too as I always like to start a late crop in my coldframe for this purpose. I found your blog through Patricks. Great to have you as part of the seed network!
ReplyDeleteHello Ottawa Gardener,
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit early to tell which peas will be good for shoots. I have planted Winterkefe, a hardy mange-tout pea, Poppet, a regular shelling pea with more tendrils than leaves, and Irish Green pea, an heirloom, round seeded, variety that can be shelled or dried. I have also ordered snow pea shoots from http://www.kitazawaseed.com/seeds_snow_pea_shoots.html I will keep you posted.
Aha - found you on the web! Great blog Madeline - now I can see what you're up to when Ruth disappears each week!
ReplyDeleteThose peas look great - time to get sowing for us!