When are peas ready to harvest

[Vixen218]

Hi all,

Just a quick question...

How can you tell when peas are ready to harvest? I can't remember when I planted them... Oooops... Must remember to keep a diary next year

[Two_Sheds]

when you can feel the peas inside. The pods will be fat & quite hard. Pop one open if you're not sure

[Vixen218]

I can feel the peas inside, but not sure if they still have more growing to do.

I was wondering if the pods should spilt easily or be able to be pulled of the stems easily?

Thank you for your quick reply though

[Two_Sheds]

I was wondering if the pods should spilt easily or be able to be pulled of the stems easily?

Why? Are you finding it difficult to open the pods? *puzzled*

[Vixen218]

Not really tried as I don't want to loose any crops lol...

[rustylady]

Pick one pod and try it Vixen. If you leave them too long they will go hard and mealy, then you will have lost the whole crop.

They're much nicer when they are sweet and juicy.

[veggiechicken]

The best way for you to know when to pick them is through experience. Pick a few at different stages and decide for yourself. Some pea varieties can look and feel different to others anyway.
I work on the principle that the more you pick, the more will grow to replace them. If you leave them to grow BIG the plant will think it has produced all the seeds it needs to reproduce and there's no need to put more energy into flowering and fruiting.
So pick frequently, pick small and sweet and try to eat them all before you reach the kitchen

[KevinM67]

When the pods have grown, if you look through them with the sun in the background you can see the peas forming.

The pod starts to bulge when the peas get bigger, and as others have stated, feel the pod to get an idea of the size of the peas.

Don't be scared to pick some, even if they are not ready yet - it encourages more pods to grow.

I need to get up to the plot today - my Kelvedon Wonder have been an absolute 'wonder' this year.
(Pea and pesto soup for my pack-up for work on Monday - yum, yum)

[Mikey]

Some of my early sowings of peas are starting to go over, you can tell this as the pod and plant start to lose its lustre and go a paler green colour. The peas inside then will be hard and not very tasty. However if you pick them, pod them and leave them on a window sill to dry out, you'll have next years crop. I always store my peas in paper bags it stops them sweating.

With regard to when to pick, personally I prefer peas before they've reached full size, its a bit like when you buy frozen peas Petit Pois are smaller and sweeter, the same rule applies in your garden. So if you want peas to eat in a salad pick them before they fill the pod. If you intend to blanche them (they don't need more than a couple of minutes), then wait until they fill the pod a little more.

You'll know when you've left it too late, its really difficult to open a pod by squeezing, because the peas fill the inside space.

[Vixen218]

Well I have managed to pick enough peas for 3 people... Just a shame there are 6 of us lol...
Oh and my 3 years old ate about 5 pods worth before we even got back to the house lol along with all the ripe strawberries lol...

[Two_Sheds]

So now you now when the peas are ready for picking.

[Likac66]

Hmm, I think I'm going to plant more as some of my early ones are losing their colour etc. If I start some off in modules now will it be ok to pull out the old plants in a couple of weeks and just plant the new ones straight in their place. I understand I have to rotate crops but is it ok if it's in the same growing season?