Which peas

[Greenleaves]

Advice please

I grow peas to eat during the summer but want to have a go at growing some to dry for the winter months. Can anyone suggest a suitable variety and what quanity would you advise planting?

[Thelma Sanders]

I grow Alderman peas, and always leave some to dry for the winter, cos they get nice and fat for stews, as well as keeping some for seeds

[Lisasbolt]

another vote for Alderman

[Chippy Minton]

Don't want to hijack a thread but in the same vein has anyone grown yellow split peas for drying?

[veggiechicken]

How can you grow a split pea?

[Thelma Sanders]

You used to be able to buy whole yellow peas in Asian shops, you could try growing them yourself.

[Zelenina]

I've seen a variety called Maro in several catalogues that's sold specially for drying.

[Zelenina]

If you want a very old heritage variety that's a bit different from the usual green ones, you can buy Carlin peas from Thomas Etty. I used to enjoy eating them as parched peas when I lived up north

[Guest]

If you want a very old heritage variety that's a bit different from the usual green ones, you can buy Carlin peas from Thomas Etty. I used to enjoy eating them as parched peas when I lived up north

They are also in the VSP

Carlin is a round pea rather than a wrinkled.

[bario1]

I've never understood this 'round pea' and 'wrinkled pea' thing - is it the seeds that are round or wrinkled? Or the pods? Or the peas?

[beeterforit]

I've never understood this 'round pea' and 'wrinkled pea' thing - is it the seeds that are round or wrinkled? Or the pods? Or the peas?

Might be those who grow them

[Martin H]

I've never understood this 'round pea' and 'wrinkled pea' thing - is it the seeds that are round or wrinkled? Or the pods? Or the peas?

It's the dry seeds.

[Guest]

I've never understood this 'round pea' and 'wrinkled pea' thing - is it the seeds that are round or wrinkled? Or the pods? Or the peas?

It refers to the dried pea.

Round peas - dried, smooth skinned starchy peas or field peas were once very common and used for making soups and porridges and are great for winter dishes. They tend to be heritage varieties such as Carlin, Latvian and Crown Peas.

Wrinkled peas - everything else, but these also include marrowfat peas.

I have included pics to help (hopefully). Top row of first pic are the round varieties.

[bario1]

Thanks Norfolkgrey, that clears that up. I only grow one kind of pea, 'Delikett', but at least now i know!

[veggiechicken]

There's an article in this month's RHS magazine "The Garden" about the re-creation of the Royal Kitchen garden at Hampton Court Palace with produce that may have been grown in the 17/18th Centuries.

"Peas were originally grown for drying as a winter protein source. Eating them fresh from the pod only became popular in the UK during the reign of William and Mary after a craze that had come from the French Court. It was seen as the height of decadence, as only the rich could afford to eat their winter protein in summer.............."
"............That's when growers starting selecting peas on how delicious and sweet they were to eat fresh, rather than if they were good as a drying pea for winter protein".

Just thoght I'd share that with you,.........as you were