Pea recommendations!

[*Lavender*]

Hello!

More questions I'm afraid - this time about peas!

I'm really looking forward to eating peas fresh from the pod this year, but don't really know which type to grow! Is it worth getting a few varieties e.g. 1st & 2nd earlies then a maincrop type, or would I be better just getting one type and trying succession sowing throughout spring/summer? I have an area about 0.6 x 3m I'm planning for peas - not sure how much I could fit in there anyway!

I hate mangetout btw, but I'd love to grow a few of the sugarsnap types as well! Any suggestions please?

[Two_Sheds]

I can ONLY grow early peas, because Pea Moth infests my maincrops

[sewer rat]

Kelvedon Wonder is strictly speaking a second early pea but can be successively sown throuhgout the season.
Alderman are a tall variety that can be grown up wigwams like runner beans and will continue to crop as long as you continue to pick.
My choice as a maincrop would be Hurst Greenshaft - seems to perform well (at least for me) regardless of what the weather throws at us.

[snuffer]

I always grow Early Onward and Onward. Good croppers. Nice and tasty. Store well in the freezer. In a good year it is possible to get a second crop of Early Onward if you re-sow immediately after lifting the first crop.

[greengrass]

i always grow pea's can't remember what sort but they never seem to reach the pot i always eat them from the pod
will have to have more control or more pea's this year

JB

[Pumpkin Becki]

I have grown 'Avola' as an early, but I find the crop size and quantity a bit disappointing. Though maybe that's the point, you get an early crop at the expense of size and quantity.

'Hurst Greenshaft is a fantastic maincrop, as is 'Alderman', I grew them both last year and was thrilled with the results, so much so that I will increase the amount I sew this year.

[sagegreen]

My choice as a maincrop would be Hurst Greenshaft - seems to perform well (at least for me) regardless of what the weather throws at us.

Completely agree, this is the only variety I now grow - a sowing every two or three weeks from march to around the end of june. Seldom lets me down.

[coreopsis]

Last year I grew Alderman and Meteor.
Meteor grew up the fence(I thought it was dwarf variety but the plants grew about 3' tall) and had about 6 peas in the pod,cropping earlier than Alderman.
Alderman had about 10 peas-Alderman peas were bigger than Meteor and was cropping for longer.Alderman needs very good support otherwise the plant collapses under its own weight.
Both tasted good

[baggyman]

Can anyone reccommend a good climbing variety?

[Flummery]

Alderman, as stated above. Lots of the heritage types climb. Modern shorter stemmed peas were developed to enable mechanical harvesting.

[Torreya]

We grew Lancashire Lad for the first time last year, it got to the top of 6ft canes, and half way back down again!! We're in the process of constructing a mini version of the Forth Road Bridge for this year They were grown for the pot, but never got there, they were so delicious straight from the pod.....
This year we're growing lots more of them, plus Alderman, Stephens, Tall Telephone and Tangier, all climbers (I hope) - changing the subject, anyone got any idea what Tangier peas are?? We picked them up from Ryton with no details available

[Torreya]

Sorry, forgot, "up the baggies"!!

[*Lavender*]

Thanks for all the advice! I think I will try Kelvedon Wonder and Hurst Greenshaft (or would I be better sticking with just the one type?).

Another question : I had been planning on growing some sweet peas in the bed as well to attract bees etc, but I'm now wondering if this is a good idea? I don't want to be picking and eating sweet pea pods by mistake! Are they easy to tell apart?!

[Flummery]

Yes, they are hairy!

[*Lavender*]

Yes, they are hairy!

Thanks! I knew it would be something obvious and silly!