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Why did no one warn me...

 
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judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 06 12:55 pm    Post subject: Why did no one warn me... Reply with quote
    

... just how good peas from the garden are?

I've never managed to grow them before, so thanks to whoever it was who reminded me about the guttering trick.

Now I need to work out how many rows I will have to grow before I can actually get them into the house for cooking, rather than eating them pod and all out in the garden!

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45374
Location: yes
PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 06 12:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

lots of things are nice fresh picked and raw (even new spuds )

culpepper



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 638
Location: Kent
PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 06 1:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have 15 plants and have frozen all the peas from them.I think they are finished now though.There is only about 1 500g marg tub full though.Next year I'm going to have to grow about 50 plants if we want more than a few meals worth.
They are lovely though.
I've dried some of the pods and ground them up to use in soup/stew aswell.

judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 06 1:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

culpepper wrote:
I've dried some of the pods and ground them up to use in soup/stew aswell.


That's an interesting idea. Do you use it for flavour or as a thickener?

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45374
Location: yes
PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 06 1:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i put in a second set of peas when i cropped the garlic and may put in lates when i crop something else
leave the roots in as the nodule things continue to fix nitrogen for later crops

judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Wed Jul 19, 06 1:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

dpack wrote:
i put in a second set of peas when i cropped the garlic and may put in lates when i crop something else
leave the roots in as the nodule things continue to fix nitrogen for later crops


So there is still time to sow some more? What is a good late variety?

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 06 10:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Have a feeling cab said any early variety would be a good one. I'm just going to bung in the same as before, and see what happens - I don't like space in the veg patch - I'd rather feed the pigeons than weed!

Last edited by wellington womble on Sat Jul 22, 06 1:37 pm; edited 1 time in total

culpepper



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 638
Location: Kent
PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 06 1:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

judith wrote:
culpepper wrote:
I've dried some of the pods and ground them up to use in soup/stew aswell.


That's an interesting idea. Do you use it for flavour or as a thickener?

Both. So far I've used turnip tops,carrot trimmings,and the pea pods.

gil
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 06 4:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Just done my first proper picking of ordinary peas. Demonstrating enormous self-discipline, I managed to get them into the house uneaten, shell them, blanch them for 30 seconds and stick them in the freezer. I also froze the pods for making wine later when I have enough (3lb per gallon).

Likewise first harvest of sugar snap and mangetouts : blanched and frozen.

(not peas) : picked and froze first gooseberries, redcurrants, and wild rasps.

At long last, the harvest begins. Also got to pick, blanch and freeze the first spinach beet and ruby chard.

Judith : it is never possible to grow enough peas

rhyddid



Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 228

PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 06 5:51 pm    Post subject: Re: Why did no one warn me... Reply with quote
    

judith wrote:
... just how good peas from the garden are?

I've never managed to grow them before, so thanks to whoever it was who reminded me about the guttering trick.

Now I need to work out how many rows I will have to grow before I can actually get them into the house for cooking, rather than eating them pod and all out in the garden!


What is the "guttering trick", if you please ?

gil
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 06 5:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

AFAIK, the guttering trick involves filling a length of guttering with compost, sowing your peas in it (possibly in a greenhouse). When the pea seedlings are big enough, you dig your shallow pea trench, and just slide the peas in their soil out of the guttering into the trench.

I've never tried this : I could see the whole thing falling to bits as I 'slid' the peas out, so I continue to sow direct. My mate tried guttering in a greenhouse : he did not harden them off enough before planting out, and the seedlings suffered.

Other people will be far more positive about using guttering, I'm quite sure .

judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 06 9:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

gil wrote:
I could see the whole thing falling to bits as I 'slid' the peas out,


It did take two pairs of hands to remove the seedlings safely. I started to do it on my own, and could feel that the whole lot was going to ping out all over the place at any moment.

As to whether it is worth it, I would say yes for the first couple of sowings. I have lost so many sowings to mice/birds/slugs in previous years, this was going to be my last attempt before giving up and growing more broad beans! I have since successfully sown more peas outside, but I think I will go with the guttering again next year right at the start of the season.

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