Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: allotment-bill on January 09, 2012, 15:52
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hi would anyone have any of these rare old seed they may let me have
been trying to sorce them but unable to do so
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This one?
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl/variety.php?IdNum=335
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That looks like the one GA.
However, despite what they say, it is NOT in this year's HSL catalogue.
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yes that is the one im looking for :) but having lost my job cant afford to join them to get those seeds :( , but thank you for your help in finding them
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There would be no point, Bill, as despite what it says on the web, they are not in the catalogue. If they were I could have made them one of my selections for this year and passed them on.
I'm struggling to make a choice this year, I was disappointed with most of last year's tomatoes and I really don't want any more peas!
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I'd never heard of them before, even though I'm from Kent! ;) But if any of us do come across them, it will be someone like DD who is already in the heritage seeds scheme.
Hope you find some!
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Out of interest - although you probably may not be - I've been in touch with HSL regarding the confusing website entries & had this reply:
Thank you for getting back to me regarding the listing on the website. As the website content is not dealt with by HSL directly we were not aware of the "Want to grow Pea 'Kent Blue' in your own garden? Then why not become a member of the Heritage Seed Library and choose this variety from the annual catalogue."
It appears that this comment is present on the links from all of the varieties listed, and I would like to apologise for this. I can quite see how this could cause confusion.
I have forwarded your email to our webmaster, and suggested that the comments regarding availability should be removed.
Best wishes,
Rachel Crow
Information Officer
Heritage Seed Library
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Someone on an alternative site is offering them, google it, best used as a mangetout
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I've seen people asking for them, and one offering them, but none recently.
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RESULT!!!!!!
HSL have sent me some seed of Kent Blue as thanks for pointing out the misleading info on the site.
Bill - as I'm stacked out with pea seed and it's you that wanted them - would you like them?
There's only 10 - but with care, next year you'll have loads!
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OH yes please that would be great its one my father used to grow many a year ago now
and would so love to get them back ::) ::)
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PM me your name and address and they'll be on their way! (I may just keep one out of interest if that's OK!)
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<<Address removed>>
and would like to thank you and everyone for the help on this topic
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Please let us all know how you get on with them and even some photos Bill (no pressure then :lol:).
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Bill so new to the site lucky you getting something you want. What a nice bunch of people we have here. :D
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It was Bill that lead me to find misleading information on the Garden Organic website and they sent me a few by way of a thank you. I could hardly keep them could I? (Well, actually I've kept one and I'll see how I can multiply that up!).
Bill - they went in the post last night, so hopefully be with you tomorrow.
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He's a good lad that DD! :)
And Bill, pleased keep us posted as to how you get on with them, then next year you can keep us all supplied with Kentish Blue!!! ;) ;)
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Hi DD
sorry taken time to reply to thank you for the pea seeds as been in hospital :(
but all sorted now ::) and fit and ready to get on with a whole new year of growing
will keep you informed as to how the pea's are doing .as got my greenhouse all set up now as well life just gets better each day ::) :D ::)
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Sorry to hear about the hospital stay, Bill, pleased you're out and hope everything's OK.
The one I kept is now about an inch high, so fingers crossed!
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Just in case you've not seen the entries in the diary section, just to update you, my single Kent Blue is about to flower, (photo in a day or two, I hope), and I think it currently has a potential for 24 flowers.
That's quite a return for one pea - but it is in its own space and has not been competing with others in a row.
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hi mine are all in flower not as tall as yours but doing very well have pods forming on some and more flowers coming as well .
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I'll move this to GYO and the swapping is over and we're watching them grow!
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May I say that they seem to be very pretty peas. :)
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With apologies, a repeat from my diary:
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010639.jpg)
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Lovely :nowink:
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They look gorgeous. Wouldn't mind a couple of seeds to try on my lotty.
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The Kent Blue Triffid.
I vastly underestimated its height in an email to Bill. It stands at 3' 7".
Current bud count is 36! Fingers crossed they all make it.
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010640.jpg)
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gave mine a feed Friday gone mental now loads of buds and flowers and like the way flowers change purple to a nice blue before pods show all going well now pea god :D :D
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DD, have you got cling film around them, and is this to stop cross pollination?
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Cling film?
They're growing in a spare bit of ground outside the greenhouse, up a spare bit of chicken wire!
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Each little flower that opens...............
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010641.jpg)
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I think what you can see is shading on the greenhouse.
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Bud count is 80! :ohmy:
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You just keep re-counting, it seems to make them multiply when you look a them! :lol:
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The seem to come in clusters of 8 at the end of each shoot.
Make counting easier! :lol:
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you doing better than me Ive got about 110 off nine plants at moment but really coming on good now making lots of growth and pea pod forming . ::)
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You'll have pods before me, Bill. I'd be interested to know how many you think are in each pod. I'm not expecting loads.
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hi pea god if my fathers journal is right you should get five peas to the pod so not bad return ,for your one plant hopefully mine will end up as tall as yours ,
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OK Bill, thanks for that. I wasn't expecting many, as they were described as small podded. Just popping outside for a quick bud count!
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OK - having established that you get 8 buds, (some are well flowering now) per tip, there are 16 budding tips. That's a potential for 128 pods from this one plant!
That's a possibility over over 600 peas from this one plant if it can support them all.
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Gosh, I think you need to start sleeping next to it in a tent in the garden!
(600 seeds this year, world domination of Kent Blue Pea supply in 2013, DD makes his first million, makes John an offer for AVG he can't refuse, also buys up all so-called rival forums ::) and closes them down!) :lol:
(Sorry, maybe a little too much sun yesterday!) 8) :lol:
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It does make me wonder if they would all be better off sown a bit farther apart - if that's how they respond when grown on their own :unsure: - what do you think?
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I'm sure that somewhere along the way someone has done the research for getting the maximum yield for a given length of row as opposed to per plant. If you were to do, say a 10' row of these peas with the space this one has got, you would have to space them 2' apart at least, and only get 6 in a row, maybe even only 5 if you didn't want the row to overhang. At current rate this is a potential yield of 3,600 seeds.
At the usual recommended spacing, you would sow 120 seed, and would only need to get 30 seed back per plant to match the overall yield, this would be more relevant if growing for food with fairly cheap seed.
In this case, I'm not, the aim is to increase the stock from one pea!
To complicate things further, I'm sure this varies from variety to variety.
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I knew that you would know why not :D
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It's also a massive assumption at this stage, that all these potential buds are going to turn into full pods!
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Can I just add to this that I'm watching with great interest - I have a variety of Champion of England which have been saved from gardens local to me for generations. I'm turning 40 seeds into as many as possible in my tiny garden - with the hope of next year getting a decent amount out on my new allotment.
I would like to ask one thing though - I know we are told the final height and planting dates for all things on seed packets, but mine are nowhere even close to being as well developed as the photos in this thread! I'm beginning to wonder if I've done something wrong, under-fed, sowed at the wrong time, etc... My CofE are at their tallest about 18", at the shortest maybe half that. They seem to be growing reasonably, but I'm now wondering if they should be much more advanced than that by this stage.
They were sown directly outside during the reasonable weather at the end of March as per DD's guidance on spacing etc, watered in then not again until they were all out of the soil. They have obviously had plenty of rain since then and the odd feed from me. Should I be doing much more? Should I have prepared the area in a specific way prior to planting?
I have pea envy...
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I have some Cof E at home also,they are just starting to shoot up after this cold spell, so hopefully yours will as well.
I have never in my life fed peas. All they require is a humus rich soil & moisture.
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I have some Cof E at home also,they are just starting to shoot up after this cold spell, so hopefully yours will as well.
I have never in my life fed peas. All they require is a humus rich soil & moisture.
Thanks. I hope to catch up with you experts; I've never had a really successful pea crop, though this one is mainly just for seed saving.
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hi DD you doing very well with your pea but must warn you not all buds go on to form pods as my fathers journal said had tendency to drop some pods , I'm hoping to build up a stock of seeds so as to send some out after they dry-ed this year
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Yes, I wasn't banking on it, that's why my posts had a liberal sprinkling of the word "if"! :lol:
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hi PEA GOD flowers coming all over place at moment plus plenty pods forming , was going to ask how many old varieties you grow on your plots and which one has proven to be your hardest to grow ???
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I've got two varieties in full production on the plot & about 6 varieties at home that I'm seed saving.
In total on the plot I've got 8 x 32' rows. 6 of the rows are from saved seed - not necessarily heritage ones. The two from bought seed are the ones with the poorest germination rate.
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Hi Pea God checked my Kent blue peas today and they are romping away have pods on them and looking like at-least 4-5 peas to a pod and they curl like a leaf funny little ones :D
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My first flower is going over, so hope to have a pod soon. The plant is getting covered in flowers now.
Stay tuned for the next exciting episode!
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great storey well done DD and best of luck Bill
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An overview from just a few minutes ago.
First flowers starting to go over, a lot of new ones had appeared and there's loadsa buds not immediately evident in the photo.
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010644-1.jpg)
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Where did that come from?
Cropped from yesterday's photo:
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010644-2.jpg)
And today:
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010647.jpg)
There appear be 8 pealets in the pod, of course they may not form fully, but we'll see.
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ooh exciting :lol:
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Gripping, innit?
Or should that be griping? :lol:
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hi DD just checked mine and they like yours pods getting bigger and fatter now and flowers just keep coming and they just look so good as well
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Cooooo like an ultrasound scan for peas 8) Have you thought of names for them yet ;) :lol:
Pea-ter, Pea-tulia, Pea-rcy...............
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Have you thought of names for them yet ;) :lol:
Pea-ter, Pea-tulia, Pea-rcy...............
:lol:
Pea-regrine..... ::)
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Pea-nelope.
If they all have a 'pea in the pod' should the names all be female? :D
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Pea-nelope.
If they all have a 'pea in the pod' should the names all be female? :D
Yes of course they should, now you mention it :lol:
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Given up trying to count buds & flowers.
Pod count is now 17, looks like 7-8 peas in most pods. Still loadsa flowers & buds on the plant.
And I thought I was ambitious trying to get a 100 fold return!
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Don't count your peas until they are hatched :D
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27 unhatched pods. :tongue2:
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27 unhatched pods. :tongue2:
To date ;) :D
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Where can I obtain the seed?
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Have a read of the beginning of the thread to see how easy it was(n't).
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hi DD glad your one doing so well :D Ive had problems lost four plants on one plot plus different veg had some vandals take fun in pulling stuff up and throwing it :mad: :mad: :mad:
luckily i kept five on my second plot they were not touched and are coming on well ::)
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Sorry to hear about that Bill, makes your boil boil after all the trouble we've gone to. >:(
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Thanks DD, if you become a member of HSL (£20.00 pa) do you get sample seeds from a catalogue FOC? and Kent Blue may well be in that catalogue?
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Yes you do, you get a choice of 6.
The problem was that the website implied that by joining the HSL, you could get Kent Blue. I knew full well that you couldn't as I'd already got the catalogue for the year.
They admitted the mistake when I pointed it out and sent me 10 seeds for my troubles. I sent 9 on to Bill as it was due to his enquiry that we found the slip up and I retained the one as a "pet"!
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Pod count = 32.
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after reading this thread from start to now I must say the flowers on these are so stunning, no wonder you wanted to grow them :)
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This is currently, (as of 5 mins ago), the top half of my plant. Remember - this is a single seed!
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010650.jpg)
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:ohmy: - thats massive to say its just one plant
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allotment-bill, i am SO sorry to hear of your incident...it breaks my heart to hear of such mindless vandalism....if only they knew how hard it was to get the peas in the first place :(
good luck with the others, i am loving this topic and cant wait so see how both yourself and DD get on.
I wish i could get hold of some, they are truly beautiful!
perhaps the pair of you could go into business in a few years time when you have saved the seeds and reproduced even more of the lovelies :)
can i be your first customer please? :)
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hi goose there are other varieties of peas/mange-tout with similar flowers, for example carouby de mussane, which has flowers like kent blue and the seeds are widely available ;)
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Pod count = 36.
See you tomorrow!
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.. the top half of my plant. Remember - this is a single seed!
His name isn't Dave at all. :closedeyes: Its Jack and that is a beanstalk! :nowink:
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42 - the answer!
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that pea plant is really pretty :)
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It's looking a bit bedraggled this morning, Joy and I got soaked counting the pods - but that's devotion!
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Hi DD been up allotments to check my peas they got a good socking last night but standing up well and pods are filling out well now at last count 84 pods so you doing far better than me shame i lost the other plants
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You should still get a goodly number of peas for next year, Bill.
Did your dad harvest them as mangetout or as "ordinary" peas? The way the pods are filling out they look more like mangetout to me, as has been mentioned in earlier posts.
My pod count this morning is 50, still loads of flowers & buds on the plant.
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Hi DD have checked his journal and he put down that he first harvested as mangetout then let the later ones grow on and used as normal peas plus saved some , this year just saving so as to be able to grow a good lot next year then let others have a try , yours is taller than any he had grown your soil must be perfect for them but as for flower buds you are right they just keep coming and that is one thing i remember about them .
took my dear old mum up to see them again but she got a bit upset when told about the vandals pulling some out as its been about 20 years since we last grow these pea,s
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Thanks Bill.
I'm saving all mine this year. Looks like I'll have enough for a few full rows next!
It looks like a very productive mangetout and I think that's how I'll grow it next year as I've got quite a few "normal" heritage peas.
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60 - still lots of flowers as well.
Getting difficult to keep track whilst counting the pods, so I reckon the best way will be when I harvest.
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What a good idea :dry:
:D :nowink:
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The flowers are beautiful on that pea plant.
I've just read through this thread from the start and must say, what a lovely gesture of DD to
pass the seed on to Bill. It's lovely that he can now carry on with a variety that his dad grew, invoking lovely memories too, I'm sure. True spirit of gardening there, good on you, DD.
The plants certainly seem to be growing well from what you both say, so hopefully can grow them now for many more years to come. Well done on all counts.
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Thank you love-my plot, I'm embarrassed now.
I couldn't resist a count - 82 pods, 60 flowers & more buds coming!
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I couldn't resist a count - 82 pods, 60 flowers & more buds coming!
:nowink:
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HI DD with this warmth and rain my pea's have shot up more pods forming having many request for seed from members of our allotments as they like the flowers ,
and was nice to find out some had been following our post who i had not seen on the allotments before , DD you are famous down here now :happy: :happy:
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Infamy more like.
Mine are hidden in the back garden away from coveting eyes!
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mine are out of main sight of prying eyes as cant afford to lose these ones but do get asked how mine are doing and then told how yours are doing even before Ive had chance to check on line
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Here's a few of the pods., (more to the left and around the back).
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010676.jpg)
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So have you started calling your pet pea 'My precious' yet ::)
You are getting just a teeny tiny weeny bit obsessive you know :nowink: :lol:
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I think it's time to 'get a room' :lol:
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I've only just started!
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That's it DD dont stop your close up pictures are brilliant and the pictures of your other peas on your plot are a great talking point on our allotments they say you are the Master and would like you to post a little bit about your preparations for your pea crops
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Preparation?
Those who have been on this forum for a little while will know that I drag out a furrow with a draw hoe, throw the peas in, cover, net & come back when they've germinated.
No pre-soaking, paraffin etc.
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All the rain is bringing those babies along nicely :D
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Hi DD hope your pea plant stood up to the very hi winds we have had over weekend
mine have done well sheltered on main plot more than can be said of others on second plot
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All the rain is bringing those babies along nicely :D
yes I noticed today that I've got some sugarsnaps ready to eat :D
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Mine are only a day or two behind :D
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glad i put some protection round the pea plants with all the high winds and heavy rain and floods we having down here at moment :( but pods are really big and fat now flowers have slowed down ,
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hi DD my peas have come to a halt now so leaving them to swell as much as possible and dry what would you say is best way to save them ,
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hi DD my peas have come to a halt now so leaving them to swell as much as possible and dry what would you say is best way to save them ,
I think DD. is on holiday. Perhaps someone else knows the answer to this?
:)
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This might help
http://daughterofthesoil.blogspot.co.uk/2007/06/saving-peas-for-seed.html
I just leave them on the plant as long as I can to dry them. Last year when it started to turn damp I hung them up in the shed in a piece of netting until they were crispy. Then shelled them.
I stored them in an open jar til the spring :)
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Thanks mumstig found it very informative as i have never saved any seed before and my fathers journal has no mention about how he did it .
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And the final result..................
997 peas from the one pea!
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Make that 998.
Mrs Digger's just trod on another!
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We'll have to get Ice to pull her legs off ;)
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Not until she's done a full circuit of the lounge where I was shelling them and found two more to make it 1,000!
I just can't believe how productive this one plant was, given it's own space. I can't say exactly how many pods there were and not all the buds made it into pods, but I'm sure more would have if they were picked for eating rather than left on the plant for seed saving.
At rough guess, 150 pods made it to full maturity from this single pea. As I said, I'm sure this would have been more if picked young.
It's definitely a mangetout variety.
A simple sum says that in two seasons, given the same growing conditions, this one pea would become one million! :ohmy:
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Wow that is fantastic. Looks like the Kent Blue Pea will survive for the future thanks to you and Allotment Bill :D.
ps when you get to your millionth pea any chance you could spare 1 or 2 please :D
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Amazing.....
Hannah :)
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Your pet pea done good :D
I'm letting all my golden and Bijou mangetout go to seed now, but I don't think I'll beat you on seed count, even though I have several plants of each ;) :lol:
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Now that it's daylight, I've found some more peas on the carpet. Count is 1002!.
Good job I got there before Mrs Digger & the Dyson. :lol:
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Found a few more as well now!
Here's the offspring of one pea:
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010687.jpg)
They're actually in a Pyrex bowl, not laid out flat, but it's not all that obvious from the photo.
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That is truly amazing!!
well done to you both!!
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That's a terrific harvest, but more important - did you taste any? what are they like :)
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Taste? Purely for seed this year - taste test comes next year!
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you done really well there DD i managed to save 1378 and had more plants than you , looking forward to a bigger crop next year and trying a few .