Peas.

[scarletrunner]

Anyone recommend Alderman peas?

[Thelma Sanders]

Yes, I grew them last year. They did a lot better in the difficult/dry weather we had, than the short peas, and they carried on for a longer season as well. 9/10 fat peas in the pod.
Beware though - the pods swell and look full before the peas are big, you almost need to feel the peas in the pod before you pick them, rather than just rely on the pod looking ready


I'm growing them again this year!

[Two_Sheds]

I think Flummery grows them. You could try a search

[solway cropper]

Have grown them for the last three years and wouldn't be without them now. I grow them up a wigwam and stop them when they get too high for me to reach. They are not true climbers like runner beans and you will have to tie them to the sticks at intervals otherwise they are likely to blow over. I also grow sweet peas among them which gives a very pleasing and scented effect.

[Alison]

Have grown them for a few years but not going to next year as there are other more unusual varieties I want to try. I grow all my main crop peas on that plastic netting stuff with canes shoved through it and into the ground. They hung on well and produced a reasonable crop but not as good as some of my earlier ones. They are however one of the easiest tall varieties to get hold of so well worth it from that point of view as tall varieties are much better than the dwarf ones as they produce more and there is less bending to pick

[Loudbarker1]

My mother's a fan of Alderman (recently converted despite her not growing peas at all in about 60 years), and they are very nice, so I was going to give them a go. Either Alderman that is, or Shirley's Victorian Colassal (from Victoriana Nursey) which I belive is a selection of Alderman. See: Pea Seed - Victorian Colossal Climbing

They (SVC) are said to grow six feet high or more. Alderman are a bit shorter.

[Thelma Sanders]

[QUOTE=Loudbarker1;924074They (SVC) are said to grow six feet high or more. Alderman are a bit shorter.[/QUOTE]

I don't know about that - mine grow over 6ft tall

[solway cropper]

I don't know about that - mine grow over 6ft tall

mine too. I stop them at about 6 foot as the idea of needing a ladder to pick peas is silly.

[Loudbarker1]

I don't know about that - mine grow over 6ft tall

Mother must be doing something wrong, along with all the catelogues!

[scarletrunner]

I don't know about that - mine grow over 6ft tall

mine too. I stop them at about 6 foot as the idea of needing a ladder to pick peas is silly.

grew some early onward to 5 feet high once,was told it was due to excess fertiliser.

[ArnoldBlack]

Alternative peas

We had great success with them but yes you need to feel the pods as they are deceptive! They were pretty mildrew resistant too. There are loads of other peas to try though. We plant about 6 of each type on 20ft frames so we get five or eight varieties, streaches the season and give options for weather loss. Sugarsnaps are good for petite pois or use whole pods. Also the purple flowered ones are very ornamental in a cottage garden.



Cheers

Arnold

[TonyO]

Anyone recommend Alderman peas?

Yes I can, I've been growing them for a few years now, & have had good yields from them. Alderman are of course a climber, rather than a bush variety, which is very handy for me, as I've got limited garden space & prefer to grow them upwards rather than outwards! Another good climber that I can recommend is the old victorian variety called Ne Plus Ultra, an excellent variety, nice & sweet, & a good cooker.



All the best.

TonyO.