Petit Pois harvest time

[vegnut]

Hi all, semi noob here
I want to find out when to pick my Petit Pois (waverex). This is my first attempt at growing peas. I know the obvious way would be to just pick a pod and open it, But i was wondering with all that wisdom out there, is there a way by just looking
This may sound daft to some, but it confuses the hell out of me.
Any info would be most gratefully received.
Regards
vegnut

[valmarg]

Well, vegnut, I suppose experience of harvesting crops comes into this, but there is nothing better than picking a pod, and tasting the peas. Pick them early rather than later. There's nothing worse than bullet peas - homegrown or otherwise!!

If the pod is 'as flat as a witches', there is no point in picking it (unless it's mangetout).

Go out and taste!! That's the best indication!!

valmarg

[Cutecumber]

Here's what I'm finding, if it's any help. (picked my first peas today!)

You can see how big the peas are inside the pods if you get the sun behind them - that's a useful trick. I expect a torch will work, too.

Also, once the peas start to form, the pods can rattle a little if you knock them - this means they are still a bit small as they can move around. I suggest that you pick and shell one which looks plump and doesn't rattle, then consider how much larger you want the peas to be, if at all.

Hope that's of help.

[vegnut]

Many thanks Valmarg & Cutecumber. Me thinks i will go and do some flicking of pods. I do have my eye on one big fat pod, well as fat as a petit pois should get, in my mind. So gonna try both ways. Here's to another learning curve.
Kind regards
Dave