Have You Ever Had Pea in a Bottle?
By Marie Anne
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
United States
June 12, 2008 5:57pm CST
Yes, I said pea in a bottle, not the OTHER ...
Several weeks ago when I was looking for containers to start my vegetables in, I was messing around and stuck some dirt in this soda bottle, dropped a sugar snap pea in it, and another small bit of dirt.
I never expected anything to happen, it really was just for fun. The joke was on me when it not only sprouted, but grew bigger and stronger than any of the others thus far!
Since the glass was clear, the seed was exposed to more sunlight even in the small amount of dirt that it was in, so it sprouted UNDER the soil before even breaking ground. You can see it if you look closely in the picture on the left.
It grew quite tall, probably 7-8" above the height of the bottle itself, but unfortunately I left it out in direct sun one afternoon for too long, and it literally fried due to the glass.
I was disappointed that I didn't have it long enough to flower and bear fruit, but I'm glad that I did get several pictures for posterity.
So, what do you think of my 'pea in a bottle'?
2 people like this
6 responses
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
13 Sep 08
I have never had pea in a bottle nor have I tried to put pea in a bottle . My anatomy make the aim a bit difficult. So you started this discussion 4 months ago. Did you restart the pea in the bottle? Sounds like an interesting experiment. are you doing any other experiments like square watermelon?
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
13 Sep 08
I didn't re-start the discussion, apparently my friend who posted above you was bored and started going through some of my old discussions and posted, which revived them.
It really wasn't an experiment, I was just feeling goofy that day, had the seeds in my hand, the bottle was right there and well, you see what happened.
I've not tried other experiments, but I've been challenged (see above) to try for lettuce in a mayonnaise jar.
@blackbriar (9075)
• United States
13 Jun 08
Figures. Now if you were to purposely plant that pea in a pot with some soil, chances are 50/50 that it would actually sprout and grow. Like with tomatos. If I was to plant them myself in pots, most wouldn't come up but I just throw the rotten tomatos in my garden last year and you don't wanna know what is over-taking my garden this year. lol Hubby told me to just leave them alone but I can't or the other plants won't grow that I want to grow...in rows. These seedlings that are about 5" tall now are scattered here and there. I can pretty well guess which ones are Roma, which are beefsteak, and which are cherry just by where they sprouted at. lol Got s few marigolds that sprouted from last year as well. I also have a pumpkin growing among my potatos as well as spuds from last year that I had no idea were there. -rolls eyes-
@blackbriar (9075)
• United States
30 Jun 08
Thanks for the best responses in both discussions, Ldy. Next spring I'm going to take your idea and imprison my starters in the dog crate with the grow light over it. I have several grow lights but nowhere to clamp them to. with your idea, I should have lots come up next spring. 
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
13 Jun 08
Actually, I'm at almost 100% germination with those that I sowed directly into the soil. I started a few of them indoors and they didn't do so well, but I think I ended up with two that I was able to transplant into the ground that are doing ok.
I guess they don't transplant well, but out of the probably 18 or so that I sowed, I think only one, maybe two didn't come up.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I was doing really well with moving it around as the sun moved, until that day. I could have cried when I realized what I'd done ...
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I can't say that I have ever had either type of "pea" or "pee" in a bottle before. I think it is a cool idea though. I think next time you might need to try a bottle with a wider mouth on it too, so you can transplant it into something bigger when it gets going.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I didn't want to transplant it. I just wanted to see if the thing would sprout at all, and boy, was I surprised!
@grasshopper5257 (438)
• Canada
13 Jun 08
That is pretty interesting. That reminds me of the bowl gardens (I can't think of what they used to call them!) that my mom used to grow in the '60 and '70's. Only a soda bottle would be on a smaller scale! What a good project that would be for little kids! My guess is that it kinda rained inside the bottle too?
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
13 Jun 08
Are you thinking of a terrarium? You can do that in a goldfish bowl or aquarium.
I really was just being silly that afternoon. I had plenty of seeds left and just starting poking around. We had found that bottle while looking in the edge of the woods for some rocks for my flower bed, and it was just sitting there waiting for me to do something with it - so I did!
I didn't leave it outside too much, usually just added a few drops of water here and there. I'm still upset with myself that I forgot it outside and of course the skinny little thing didn't have a chance, not in that glass.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
13 Jun 08
you are a mess!! lol u sure got my attention. u are a good writer , hang in there. u are going to do fine.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
13 Jun 08
FINALLY - someone gets it!
Thank you, dear lady. I thought I was going to have to retire for the night with the sad notion that not a single mylot'er had got my feeble attempt at witticism this evening.
