Saving Pea Seeds Too Early

[Shortie]

Hi all

I've just realised I can still get some seeds out if I hurry and the only bed that's going to become spare in the near future has peas on it at the mo.

It's the end of the line for the plants and I've been leaving them in the ground to ripen the pea pods for seeds next year. The peas/seeds on them aren't yet ready to pulled (i.e. they're not yet papery podded).

If I lift them early to make space for these other seeds, can I store the seeds pods (plants still attached I guess) so they can keep ripening, or will I have to not plant more bits out / sacrifice the pea seeds?

Also, I've ready that I can plant dwarf beans (french or runner) between my PSB (which is currently still very small) as the beans will gone and pulled up before the PSB needs the space - is this true?

Thanks
Shortie

[Two_Sheds]

Also, I've ready that I can plant dwarf beans (french or runner) between my PSB (which is currently still very small) as the beans will gone and pulled up before the PSB needs the space - is this true?

Yes, that should work.

[Two_Sheds]

I've just realised I can still get some seeds out if I hurry and the only bed that's going to become spare in the near future has peas on it at the mo.

what are you sowing?
can it possibly be sown in between your peas? Your peas will be up and out within a month I should think, if not sooner.

[Flummery]

Shortie, you can pull up the whole pea plants and bunch them together and tie them upside down in a shed to ripen you peas seeds. Alternatively (and more space-savingly) you can remove the pods and leave them on newspaper to dry. You should get away with that, particularly if you have left the pods to get fairly mature already. If the bit where the pod is attached has started to become dry and wrinkled, they are as mature as they'll get and they just need chance to dry out.

[gojiberry]

Would agree with Flummery, once the peas have filled the pod they are mature enough and just need drying.

Ian

[Shortie]

Yes, that should work.

Yay! Guess what I'm doing on Sunday then

what are you sowing?
can it possibly be sown in between your peas? Your peas will be up and out within a month I should think, if not sooner.

Ah... yes I would do if I'd left enough space. One lesson learnt this year is that just because I know something will grow just as well with less distance between it, doesn't mean you should do it Like the fact I couldn't walk between my onions this year when they'd swollen

[Shortie]

Thanks Flum.. I'll see how many full pods I have and maybe do that. With trays of drying onions in my shed at the mo, I'm fast running out of space, otherwise I'll lift the whole plants and find space somehow