This old heirloom shelling pea dates back to 1880. It's a versatile, tasty, reliable pea that grows well in cool soil. Plant in spring or fall.
This super-early, semi-dwarf variety produces five to seven peas per pod and offers a sweet and delicious flavor when cooked in soups and stews, or lightly steamed and enjoyed.
Prior to sowing, add wood ashes to the area for fertilization. Soak seeds overnight before planting.
Plant the first sowing in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. It is best to have a support or trellis system to help with diseases and yield. For fall crops, sow six to eight weeks before first frost date.
Pick when pods are at the desired stage. In theory, all peas can be harvested before the seeds mature, as snow peas, and then as tender snap peas, and finally as shelling peas. Most varieties have an intended maturity for picking (for Alaska, that’s 55 days). Make multiple sowings to extend the harvest season.
Harvest frequently to ensure continued yields.
Saving pea seed is easy! Leave pods of spring-planted peas on the vine to dry. Harvest dried pods and hand shell the seeds over a cloth or container. To ensure true-to-type seed, separate pea varieties by 30 feet. Store seeds in a cool, dry area for up to three years.