Peas Galore

[mortality]

While reading American_gardeners 2009 seed trials and looking at the huge pea list I thought i'd see what information I could find about the varieties. (and see if any of the old types are available in the uk, I bet they arnt)

I came across this www.seeds.ca/hpd/cvlist.php?species=Pea&limit=500&records=1838

A gold mine of information, enjoy.

[ottawagardener]

This is part of the Seeds of Diversity website out of Canada. Pretty cool eh!

www.seeds.ca/hpd/hpd.php

Makes me want to go on a seed diversity tour.

[robertb]

Here's a good site for old varieties: www.angelfire.com/az/garethknight/dots/ .

[ottawagardener]

Yup, when it comes to peas, this is your lady!

[mortality]

Oh yes her blog is amazing ;D looks like shes taking a break though.

[robertb]

She says it's because she's extremely busy at the moment. It's a pity! Meanwhile there are people here with loads of varieties which are unobtainable or almost so this side of the Atlantic. I'm hoping to change that over the next few years.

[mortality]

I would definitely like to be growing some of the old pea types which you dont seem to be able to get in the UK anymore

[robertb]

I should have some rare ones to share at the end of the season. Meanwhile, try www.realseeds.co.uk/ and brownenvelopeseeds.com/ . Magnum Bonum from Brown Envelope Seeds is one of the best, and Real Seeds have some very interesting varieties that I'm trying.

[grunt]

mortality: Check out our seed list. Most of the peas came from Rebsie, and those are all old English varieties.

[mortality]

Thank you both ;D

[robertb]

Unfortunately I had a disastrous year last year, which is why I don't have seed now. First the pigeons hammered the peas, and then we were hit by the worst flood on the site in living memory, which finished the crop off.

[Alan]

I'll be growing quite a few older varieties this year for seed. The ARS GRIN system has a pretty decent listing of which I've requested quite a few and will be increasing for seed. I'll let you know how they do and with any luck I'll have seed available this fall.

[galina]

robertb,

are you in need of unusual pea seeds or (another post) rattlesnake bean seeds? I could send you several varieties grown 09. PM me if you need any. If you tell me what varieties you have lost in the floods, I'll have a rummage in the seedbox here and hopefully replace some. I only live a couple of counties away from you.

Pigeon and mice are very bad round here as well. After planting out (I sow indoors to minimise losses to mice) every little bunch of peas gets a bottle cloche which does not get removed until the tops grow out of it. For very rare varieties I use one bottle per plant and that stays in place all season with the stems growing out of the top to protect the plants from mice. I also string up old CDs to deter the pigeons. At least we did not get the floods you had.

These are my peas for this year: Langedijker Bleekbloei, Eat All, Golden Sweet, Court Estate Gold, Harold Idle, Rheinische Zucker, Sugarbon, Magnum Bonum, Laxton's Exquisite, Schweizer Riesen and a small planting of new-to-me peas Ne Plus Ultra, Alderman, Douce Provence and Lancashire Lad, Wando, Lincoln and Capucijner. I am waiting on two more 'new to me' peas which may be held over until next year. All being well, I hope to have fresh seeds later this year.

[galina]

Alan

looking forward to reading your reports and, if possible, seeing a few pictures too.

[mortality]

Mar 10, 2010 17:14:11 GMT -5 galina said:

Alan

looking forward to reading your reports and, if possible, seeing a few pictures too.

That goes for me too