Do you have plants growing right now? (snow pea update)

@TheHorse (205796)
Walnut Creek, California
January 4, 2016 11:57am CST
My "snow pea experiment" continues. For some reason, it never occurred to me to try and grow snow peas through the Winter until this year. Where I live (in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area) Winter highs are generally in the low 50s, and lows are generally in the upper 30s. Occasionally, nighttime lows drop to the mid-20s. I knew from experience that that snow peas enjoyed the Winter in Berkeley and Oakland, which are closer to the Bay and more moderate in climate. And I read a few years ago that they're "frost-resistant." But this is my first time planting in November and December on my balcony and seeing what happens. I'll attach a picture of what my balcony snow peas looked like as of two days ago. They still seem to be thriving. Later today, I'll put this pot next to my balcony "fence," so they can climb ip the lattice work. It's raining again today, meaning I don't have to water. Do you have a "garden" growing where you live? If it's Winter, what do you find grows best in Winter? I want to expand my horizons.
29 people like this
28 responses
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
4 Jan 16
There are several vegetables that grow during winter, even in cold countries. I grow , lettuce, potatoes, kale and spinach. Some large herbs like sage and rosemary are evergreen.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
Ah, thanks for the info. Maybe I'll try some spinach.
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@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
4 Jan 16
@TheHorse They are pretty easy to grow and potatoes too.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
@LadyDuck I'm assuming I'd need a pretty big patch of dirt for potatoes. I just use small planters on my balcony.
3 people like this
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
4 Jan 16
No nothing is going on here.Too early,way too early for us.
3 people like this
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
4 Jan 16
Same here, too cold (Toronto) to grow anything outside. Your peas look good.
@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
But Anna suggested that some things will grow in Southern Switzerland.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
5 Jan 16
I love snow peas. I haven't tried growing anything in winter here, but I am sure it would work. Florida has been unusually warm this winter and even when it isn't the cold doesn't last very long.
2 people like this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
5 Jan 16
@TheHorse I actually had a wild sunflower grow during the winter. My neighbor wanted it so I let her transplant it.
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Jan 16
Oh, I'm sure you could grow things in Florida all year round. Would even corn and sunflowers grow there in the Winter?
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Jan 16
@mommaj Oooh...you could grow a bunch, then! Just plant some seeds and see what happens! They're pretty all in a row. And the seeds are fun to bake and eat.
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@Juliaacv (48446)
• Canada
4 Jan 16
We do not have enough natural light during the winter months to keep anything alive that requires a lot of light. I took some slips off of a large begonia from the garden a few months ago. I planted them when they grew roots, but the past week or two they have all been dying and I suspect it is the lack of sunlight, these flowers love their sunlight. Good luck to you with your experiment, sounds like fun!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
Thanks for the info. Yes, you have even "shorter" Winter days in Canada than we do here in California.
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@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
4 Jan 16
Don't have anything growing,hope yours do well
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
Thanks. I just put them up against the "fence" this morning.
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
@Missmwngi I don't know if you read about my "evil deed" out at Kaiser. I surreptitiously planted some snow peas and other seeds out there where my doctor's office is. That have (had) these empty planters out there, and I couldn't resist. Last time I checked, the snow peas were coming up. Heh heh.
2 people like this
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
4 Jan 16
@TheHorse It is awesome having such experiments
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@just4him (306352)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 Jan 16
They look like they're thriving. I don't garden. I've never had any luck growing anything.
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
I used to think the same until I started growing corn and sunflowers in Oakland.
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
@just4him In Oakland, we had lots of slugs and snails. I wound up starting all of my plants in little paper cups. When they got too big for the wee beasties to destroy, we (the kids and I) would transplant them using Miracle Gro Quick Start to avoid "transplant shock."
1 person likes this
@just4him (306352)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 Jan 16
@TheHorse Maybe container plants would work for me. Yours are doing well.
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@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
5 Jan 16
We have a fern growing but that was all. As long as the coffee grounds hold out we should be fine on it. No garden here. Winter and up and down temps would not allow us to grow anything.
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Jan 16
Idaho is pretty far North (and inland) too. I know it gets cold there.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
5 Jan 16
I am planting the sunflower seeds to get the sprout. I will not let it grow into a big plant, I just want to harvest the sprouts and use it in soup or noodle.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Jan 16
Oh, interesting! How tall are they when you harvest?
@Wakeupsud (201)
• India
5 Jan 16
In our place there are many vegetables grown during the winters, but the famous vegetable is Brinjal. As in my native place, my uncle has a farm were he grows brinjal in winter.
1 person likes this
• India
7 Jan 16
@TheHorse Brinjal is a vegetable we use in dishes like baigan ka bharta and many more and even they have good health benefits. In your place it may be called as eggplant.
@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Jan 16
What is brinjal used in?
@jstory07 (134464)
• Roseburg, Oregon
5 Jan 16
I can not grew anything. Nothing grews for me. But my husband wants to try and grew things when we move.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Jan 16
Stephen does not launch a three-pointer while saying "I can't hit three-pointers." Catch my drift?
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jan 16
My water-melons and pumpkins now have flowers on them so hopefully we'll eventually have fruit. I should do a post on them and include a photo.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Jan 16
Absolutely. I have to do my math. Early January = early July here, right?
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@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jan 16
@TheHorse I would guess so. I was late planting these and I thought they'd produce more runners before flowering so perhaps they're making up for lost time. Luckily the roos have left them alone although I have bits of netting and Weldmesh over them.
@monalica (113)
• New Delhi, India
5 Jan 16
There are so many fruits and vegetables that can be grow in winter season .Some are apple,grapes,peas,cabbage,carrot,etc.Gardening is a good hobby for every one who wants to live near nature .
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Jan 16
Can you garden all year round in much of India?
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@monalica (113)
• New Delhi, India
11 Jan 16
Yes, we can .
• Ireland
4 Jan 16
Nothing much is happening, although I see some hyacinths beginning to poke above the surface. Because of the mild weather, some roses are trying to bloom and my sister tells me that her daffodils are advanced in growth. It's very wet here with all the recent storms, so conditions are inclement for doing any gardening and tidying up.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
How cold does it get in your part of Ireland in the Winter?
@paigea (35701)
• Canada
5 Jan 16
Our ground is frozen solid. Nothing grows here.
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Jan 16
If I were that far North, I wouldn't be trying snow peas.
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@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
4 Jan 16
It sounds interesting to be able to grow some plants in winter. I always told my children, Winter is the time for the plants to have a good rest, and the seed babies will start to be born and grow in Spring. I will let him know about this as well. I am staying in tropical country, so I guess almost all the plants can be growing all the time. I am not good at gardening, but currently I just have a pot of basil left in my garden, as I didn't take care of my garden when I was feeling sick due to pregnancy a few months ago. Though the cherry tomatoes and mulberries trees are still alive, they look sad now. Hope your snow peas will grow happily.
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Jan 16
Cherry tomatoes have surprised me. One year, they started growing again on their own.
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@amnabas (13742)
• Karachi, Pakistan
4 Jan 16
Wow your plant is growing well. I do have small garden but it's in my mother in laws custody.
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
Is it fairly temperate/moderate there?
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
4 Jan 16
Low 50s, upper 30s - what would that be in centigrades, please?
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
Let's see. F = 9/5 C + 32. So low 50s would be about 12 C. And upper 30s would be about 4 C.
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@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
4 Jan 16
No planting here yet I'm afraid but plenty of spring bulbs have started to come up!
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
Funny--I've never done bulbs. There are some old bulb plants near the base of Mt. Diablo that have come up for decades. I gather early 20th Century people planted them around their cabins.
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
4 Jan 16
livng in an agricultural area, i see stuff growing all the time year round. to grow stuff in the winter, you can always cover it with a black plastic trash bag to keep it warm . grwoing stuff in winter is a good way to head off the pests that are around during the warm months.
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
True, but it seems like a lot of effort. The stuff on my balcony is largely decorative, though I have harvested a few Spring snow peas out there. Thanks, though. Maybe I'll do that with some early corn and bean starts.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Jan 16
Nothing grows here in Massachusetts in the winter unless you have a green house.
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@TheHorse (205796)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Jan 16
Got it. That's where my brother lives. I'm sure he'll be complaining about the cold soon.
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