It's Time to Plant Peas
Maybe it's because they grow in the cool months that peas aren't much bothered by pests and diseases. Whatever the reason, it makes peas an excellent vegetable for trying heirloom varieties, since most modern hybrids are developed for resistance to diseases. In fact, peas are one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world. They've been grown and eaten for about 6,000 years. A main reason for their popularity is how easily they can be dried and stored to last throughout the winter. Eating fresh peas may be a modern luxury, but even in the heirloom category there are still many choices for shelling, snap and snow peas.
Shelling peas are grown to be eaten out of their pods. Usually the pod will be fibrous, stringy and generally inedible. These are sometimes referred to as garden or English peas. One of the most popular heirloom peas still widely grown today is Tall Telephone or sometimes listed as Alderman. These vines grow to 5-6' and will need support. They pay off with a harvest of large 5" pods containing 8-10 peas each. Lincoln or Homesteader peas are a good midsize vine, peaking at 20-30 ". This variety also does well in warmer weather, which is good for those years when we go right from winter to summer. Little Marvel has been around since the turn of the last century and is frequently used to develop hybrids, which means it must have some very desirable traits. The Little refers to its height, only 15-20". The Marvel refers to its vigor and the 6-7 peas per pod this small plant can produce.
A less often seen variety is the beautiful Blue Pod Capucijners. This variety was probably developed by the Capuchin monks in Holland. The vines grow 4-5' tall and will need support. The flowers are a lovely bicolor lavender and magenta which develop into bluish purple pods. The peas were usually harvested dry and used in soups, but they can be cooked fresh and can
