mangetout- how much harvest?

[janeyo]

I have got some mangetout, 'oregon sugar' from a kindly grape.
Wondered how many plants I might need for 4 greedy people? Or how much harvest per plant?
Also do they freeze?

Thanks

[Flummery]

Difficult to say - I grow them in a double row and about 3 inches apart in the row. You get more the more you pick them. And yes, they freeze very well. I always have a row in.

[janeyo]

Thanks Aunty F, I think I will do an early lot and a late lot. We love them but they are so expensive and usually tasteless.
I am looking forward to them
What happens if I let them grow on and forget to pick?

[Eyren]

What happens if I let them grow on and forget to pick?

You get seed for next year

[rana]

Best to sow in succession as the cropping period is about 4 weeks before the plants start to go over. To maximise crop you should keep picking. The young tender pods of Oregon sugar pod are excellent but if left to grow large become slightly stringy. A 20' double row will provide good pickings for 4 people, but if you have space for more they do freeze well.

[vicky]

We do a 3 foot double row which feeds 3 1/2 people. As already said, don't forget to successional sow, although if you water generously they'll go on longer.

[Snadger]

They do freeze very well, which means you can pick them at the peak of perfection and by doing so, encourage more pods to form!

[Flummery]

I saved a few for seed and also used some to cross with Lancashire Lad purple podded. The pollen was from the purples and the seeds set on the Oregons. This entailed a large quantity of ribbon tied to the pods I was saving to make sure I didn't eat them by mistake! Looked very pretty though.

[janeyo]

Bet it looked lovely

Thanks all.