[Zippy]

Our peas were rubbish this year (Meteor), starchy and bitter with mildewy leaves and pods. Even the resown batch later were the same.

For next year I would like a nice sweet prolific climber that is a pleasure to pick and eat - any suggestions please? I have sandy soil which I am slowly building up organically.

Cheers me dears!

[Yorkie]

I use Hurst Green Shaft, a traditional but widely-available variety.

Mind you I grow on a heavier soil so don't know if sand will affect cropping.

[peapod]

Kelvedon wonder is always a favourite and my main crop, but my own personal sweetest is Stokesley.  They are a heritage pea, so hard to get hold of.

As they were starchy when you picked them, are you sure you dodnt leave them on too long? Even the worst variety should be sweet if picked early enough.  For mildew problems, a spray of milk and water is good

[DD.]

I wasn't going to mention Stokesley as you can only get them 30 at a time from the Heritage Seed Library.

However, as Paula has mentioned them, I'll say that I'm growing them and another heritage pea next year, having built the seed up over 3-4 years.

Even the family have commented how sweet they are.

If you belong to the HSL it's worth getting those & doing a bit of seed saving. Sorry - I cannot supply the whole forum membership!

[peapod]

I cant offer any either, as Im building mine up too. But its a good idea to join HSL if you are a fan of a particular veg.  You can find one just to your taste and suitability.

(PS make sure they are well watered while podding whatever you choose - especially as you have a sandy soil)

[Zippy]

As they were starchy when you picked them, are you sure you dodnt leave them on too long?

The plants only grew to about 6 inches with one or two pods on the plant with one or two peas in each pod. Plants were weedy and light green with a dry browning (like bruised fruit) on the pods. Pease were bitter tasting and starchy, but not dried like a pea seed - still green.

I thought the variety was wrong for the soil perhaps. Didn't feed the soil beforehand as I thought the pea being a nitrogen fixer wouldn't need a rich soil.  Soil was sandy but with a good thick dressing of rotted compost from last autumn.

[DD.]

When did you sow them?

Mine go in towards the end of March, mildew is usually a problem for later sown peas. An early sowing also helps avoid pea moth.

[Zippy]

I sowed my first wave around April time and a second lot around August as it has been quite cool and rainy and I thought they would be ok in this cooler weather.

[DD.]

It's not been cool here the last few days!

[Goosegirl]

I have grown Hurst Greenshaft for a few years now and they are lovely and sweet - this year they had a second spurt which gave me some extra peas even though the pods were mildewed. They grow about 4-5ft so need supporting with netting.

[pushrod]

Hi Peapod or DD - so what are the downsides of Stokesley? Does the fact that they are heritage stop the big seed companies getting in on the act?

[DD.]

The only drawback is that the plants are quite tall, hence more support needed, but having said that they are very sturdy.

The yield is good too, when I grew some other heritage seed as well as a seed guardian these returned 60 fold as opposed to 40 fold with the other two varieties.

If you do a forum search on "Stokesley" you'll find a few previous postings, plus piccies.

[Potiron]

 If you can get them in the UK  Do give 'Telephone A Rames' a try . Its the best pea I have ever tasted and freezes ever so well. The only problem with it, it gets a bit tall 5ft +.

[pushrod]

The only drawback is that the plants are quite tall, hence more support needed, but having said that they are very sturdy.

The yield is good too, when I grew some other heritage seed as well as a seed guardian these returned 60 fold as opposed to 40 fold with the other two varieties.

If you do a forum search on "Stokesley" you'll find a few previous postings, plus piccies.

cheers   - Do you know if there is anything legally to stop the big seed merchants adopting this type or is it that they are just not interested?

[DD.]

I don't know about the legalities, but someone's got to spend a few years and a few acres cultivating seed. That equates to cost.