With so many new gardeners this year, we've added a few "getting started" videos to our youtube channel. Mary's Heirloom Seeds on YT
In general, Peas are a cool weather crop but some varieties like it HOT!
Cool Weather Peas are best grown in temperatures at or below 70 degrees so they are great as a Fall and Spring crop. Heirloom Pea Seeds
English Pea, also called a Garden Pea: eat the pea and not the pod
Snow Pea: Edible pods often used in stir fry. The pea inside does not fully form before harvesting (unless you're harvesting for seed saving)
Sugar snap: Pods are plump when ready. Both the pea and the pod are eaten.
Cool weather peas do not stay fresh very long after harvesting so it's good to have recipes or storage options available.
HOT weather peas are often called Southern Peas or Cowpeas. Southern Peas are more beanlike than pealike. The best know Southern pea is the blackeyed pea.
Here's our latest video
A few of our favorites:
Alaska Pea: sugar pea so the pod and pea are eaten. GREAT short-season pea
Blue Podded Pea: eaten early, they are more like a snow pea. Wait to harvest and they are shelling peas
Mammoth Melting: Excellent snow pea for stir fry
Sugar Ann snap pea: delicious eaten raw. Not a bush but a smaller vining snap pea
Wando garden pea: English pea for shelling. More heat tolerant than most peas
NEW at Mary's Heirloom Seeds this year is the Purple Hull Pinkeye Cowpea
California Black Eye Pea: as the name implies, this is a black eye pea used in soups and stews
Whippoorwill southern pea: a pre-1700 cowpea. Drought tolerant. Small seeds are light brown with dark speckles.
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