Saving pea seeds

[Eden]

Has anyone saved pea seeds and grown them the following year with success? They are Feltham Firsts that I have saved - but my father-in-law says it's not worth bothering with (although he has never grown peas himself!).
many thanks
Eden

[Snadger]

I have two heritage varieties which I save seed from each year, purple podded and Ne Plus Ultra. Very easy to do and quite satisfying to grow. You don't need many dried pods to give you a lot of peas!

[cottage garden]

Me too.....I always save seed and use year to year. Like Snager I save purple podded and I always save my sweet peas. Almost 100% germination as well.

[pigletwillie]

Likewise snadger with the heritage varieties. If you have any peas that are past picking to eat they are worth saving for next years seed, unless you want to use them as dried peas for kitchen use.

[Paulottie]

Hey Snadger, Ne plus ultra was that variety that Harry Dobson was growing on VKG wasn't it? I would love to trial some if you could spare/point me in the direction of a few please.

[shirlthegirl43]

I am leaving a couple of purple pod mangetout for seed for next year - any tips would be very welcome please.

[momol]

Hi Shirl,
I am saving my sugar pea seeds too (norli) I just let some of the pods ripe on the vine, harvest them when the vine died ( by that time, the pod will be very dry and crispy, very easy to peel, seed are ready to be save )

Cheers,
Momol

[shirlthegirl43]

Thanks Momol. They have been left a good while but don't seem to be going crispy - how long (about) does that take?

[momol]

Hi Shirl,

It is about 2 to 3 weeks in my case ( during the last hot spring ) from seed pod forming to fully crisp dried seed pod but that time was much dryer and lot warmer, if you have lots of rain ( and less sun ) it will take a bit longer ( perhaps another week or 10 days longer than the above ).

Good luck,
Momol