peas or mange tout

[squashytomato]

we planted peas in two different beds, however we thought one of the beds was planted with mange tout but both look the same and taste the same! is there anyway of working out if i should be picking one now or leaving it to grow on?

[zazen999]

Hey - it's squashy tomato!!!

I'd try eating one of each as mange tout - and if one isn't all fibrous then you've found the mange tout.

Personally I would have them all as peas.

[Demeter]

I don't think it matters a huge lot, as you can eat mangetout as peas and vice versa, it's just that the "mangetout" varieties are bred to have nicer pods while the "pea" varieties are bred to have nicer peas!

Try them both as flat pods and also as they swell - I found that, except when very immature at which point it is hard to tell the difference, the mangetout taste sweeter than the peas. Also the pea pods get fibrous as they swell, which mangetout don't. (Not that mine have had the chance to swell all that much lol)

[squashytomato]

i have tasted both and cant say i noticed much difference so i'll probably harvest a few for a stir fry and let the majority grow, thats if i have any as i got the girls to test them as well and they went down pretty well with them

[Two_Sheds]

My mange tout peas (I left them too long) taste sweeter than my proper peas, so I'll save the seed and grow them as peas next year.

[Flummery]

And my hertiage Lancashire Lad purple podded peas are actaully nicer raw as mangetout than raw as peas. However, I have great hopes of them cooked - like a marrowfat, I hope!

The real difference is genetic - some have the gene for a fibrous mature pod and some don't. There seem to be degrees of fibrous-ness - fibrosity?

[jaykay]

I'd try eating one of each as mange tout - and if one isn't all fibrous then you've found the mange tout.

I'd wondered what the difference was. I've only planted shelling peas so far but have been tempted to try some of the young pods as mangetout. I picked about 20 pods yesterday and had enough peas for 3 of us with lunch (the other 3 don't like peas!) but I felt really guilty throwing the empty pods into the compost bin. So I'll try some as 'eat them all' and see how they taste.

[FoxHillGardener]

I picked about 20 pods yesterday and had enough peas for 3 of us with lunch (the other 3 don't like peas!) but I felt really guilty throwing the empty pods into the compost bin. So I'll try some as 'eat them all' and see how they taste.

You can also use the starchy pods when you're making stock, and then chuck them in the bokashi bin before the compost

[squashysu]

i have tasted both and cant say i noticed much difference so i'll probably harvest a few for a stir fry and let the majority grow, thats if i have any as i got the girls to test them as well and they went down pretty well with them

hi ya ST - you have come out of hiding lol!!! after causing me deep stresses ha ha !!

you mean you let the kids eat the veg, i thought you was gonna frame it ha ha !!

I think i am gonna defo grow peas next year, let me have all your secrets, i prefer peas to mange tout - by the way how is the allotment ?? x

ps. i want you to do a blog please xx but ony if you are glammed up in it!

[ClimbingKarabiner]

Which is which as seedlings

I have planted out two runs of both peas and mange tout in guttering in the greenhouse ready to plant out once the germinated and grew a little. I made the schoolboy error of not labeling as I went along and am now left with two sets of two which could be either Mange Tout or Peas!

They are now 5 to 6 inches tall and one lot has many, many more threads for climbing with than the other, which only have a couple of threads each. Is this a clue to solve my earlier mistake - it would be good to know before they grow too big.....?

[bikermike]

mange toutes tend to grow faster earlier, so I'd guess the bigger ones are mt. but the pods are pretty obviously differe different, so I'd wait for them.

[nickdub]

I have planted out two runs of both peas and mange tout in guttering in the greenhouse ready to plant out once the germinated and grew a little. I made the schoolboy error of not labeling as I went along and am now left with two sets of two which could be either Mange Tout or Peas!

They are now 5 to 6 inches tall and one lot has many, many more threads for climbing with than the other, which only have a couple of threads each. Is this a clue to solve my earlier mistake - it would be good to know before they grow too big.....?

If you could let us know which varieties they are, then it is possible someone will know which type has more tendrils than the other.

[Jimmy]

Never managed to cook any peas.

Various relatives sample them at the podding stage or before.
Hence none get to the pot.

Jimmy

[veggiechicken]

As Nick says, the varieties matter - because some peas/MT will only grow a couple of feet, others to 8'+.

[sherlockofsheff]

If go with the mange tout. You'll get more harvest with eating the of as opposed to the contents plus they are FAR more expensive in the shops.
Win win