Yesterday, I did something crazy.
I planted some sugar snap peas.
Which is a little weird because most people either plant their peas on President’s Day or St. Patrick’s Day. But I couldn’t wait. With the excepting of pruning the raspberry patch and edging the lawn, all my major garden chores for this year are done {go ahead, hate me}.
And you know what they say… Idle hands are the Devils playground. Or in my case, if I don’t start plant some seeds soon, I’m going to have a panic a major attack. 
So peas it is. 
Now you may be wondering why the heck I don’t just plant my pea seeds directly in the ground. And the reason is that it’s still too cold to plant peas in the ground {at least here in Washington state}. If I were to plant peas in the ground right now there is a good possibility they’d just rot.
But by planting the peas in gutters now, and keeping them in the greenhouse for a few weeks until it warms up a bit, I’ll be able to get a jump start on the growing season.
Why plant peas in gutters you ask?
Well that’s easy. Once the pea plants are established {it will take 4-6 weeks} I’ll then be able to bring the gutters over to my garden boxes, make a small trench in the soil, and then slide the pea plants out of the gutters and into the garden.
It’s kind of a cool trick.
And it will work as long as the temps don’t go below 20 degrees because the greenhouse generally keeps the plants about 10 degrees warmer in the winter. And if the temps dip, well then I’ll simply have to remove the gutters from the greenhouse and haul them into the garage for a few nights. Which the HH will totally be onboard with {not}.
Ahh yes, winter gardening is cool. Don’t you agree?
~Mavis
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Julie says
LOVE this and totally wish we had our greenhouse up! Speaking of greenhouse… I actually popped over on a real computer hoping to find a post on how you prepped for your greenhouse. We had one at the house when we moved in set on a cement slab. We gave it away because my husband didn’t think we’d use it (gasp) and put a shed on the slab. Now that we want to get one again we need to decide what to set it on/what we want for a floor and I’m doing a bit o research before he just throws something down! 🙂
Peggy Stenglein says
Wonderful!
Jamie says
You are making me envious with your snow free garden and yard. My garden is covered in 4 foot piles of snow and more on the way. Gardening seems so very far away still this year!
Mavis Butterfield says
I know, I need to move somewhere where it snows… that would be fun. 🙂
Denise says
Mavis, do you use any software program to plan and or track your garden?
Mavis Butterfield says
Nope, this blog serves as a garden tracker. 🙂
Sabrina says
Hi Mavis,
I’m new to gardening and just found your blog and it is AMAZING and slightly intimidating all at the same time. I just got a greenhouse for Christmas and we are planning on putting it up in March I think. Depending on what the ground is like. I’m in PA and it’s been freezing and snowing like crazy this year. Do you have suggestions on the best way to tackle this? Also, how would I go about keeping it warm at night? Thanks for sharing your garden adventures with us!
Mavis Butterfield says
I was thinking about buying a greenhouse heater {you can find them on Amazon} for this winter but I just never got around to it. I think PA gets pretty chilly in the winter so if I were you I would totally look into getting some sort of greenhouse heater.
Cecily says
I hope the HH is prepared to have his garage invaded. Low temps in the Seattle area are predicted to be in the teens this week.
Shirley says
Hi Mavis,
I have enjoyed your blog and have learned so much from you. Will you be doing the monthly dollar account of $ spent on groceries, etc? I know you went over your 2013 budget, but I still think you did amazingly well.
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes. –> http://www.stage.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/category/weekly-shopping-trips/
Johanne says
Mavis,
Is that just plain garden soil in the gutters or some kind of combination?
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s my homemade potting soil mix. Here is the recipe. –> DIY Potting Soil Mix
Ock Du Spock says
Can’t wait to see how this works out! Peas are my favourite. I’m about to plant peas too- we have the opposite problem though, it gets too hot for peas here!