Topic: Kent Blue Peas

[1066]

Hi does anyone have a few Kent Blue Peas to spare? Been reading about them and really fancy giving them a try. Happy to swap or send stamps


Thanks

1066 :)

[saddad]

I haven't but I think DebP may have... I'm sure I've spoken to someone on here who has them...  :)

[jimtheworzel]

are they an old variety? first time i have heard of them

[saddad]

I've seen them in the HSL catalogue...  :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you don't get any, ask again. I have a few, but not enough to share until I get some seed off them. They're very sweet, best picked as the peas start to reach a reasonable size, and used as mangetout.

[1066]

thanks for the replies  :)

I'd scribbled a note to myself, and just came across it, so checked online and they were in the HSL catalogue (not this year tho!)

Yes Jim - here's the blurb
"Donor Mr J Hadow's grandfather of Sevenoaks, Kent was given this pea in the 1940s and the family have grown it ever since. It has very attractive bicoloured flowers that start off blue, turning to maroon/pink on maturing followed by small, crisp, sweet pods, perfect for eating as mange tout, or allowing to develop a little more and using as sweet fresh peas. Garden Organic's Pauline Pears says “The best pea I have ever grown”.


Oh well, I'll keep on searching  :)

[rugbypost]

HI dont know if this will help  Garden organic.org.uk  The national charity for organic growing. You join and the seeds are £15 no harm in trying  Rugbypost

[1066]

thanks Rugbypost  :) I did look there but couldn't really understand it all! Must be having a blonde week or something! (I also think the website is as confusing as h*ll!!
Anyway, I'm a member of HSL, but baulked at paying £15 for a packet of peas - no matter how good they are and how good the practice of "adopting a veg" is! Can someone whose brain is working help me please!!!  ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

Be patient if you don't get any offers, and contact me around July or August.

[markfield rover]

In March we have a seed swap here and the HSL often have all sorts of odds and whatsits so I will make a note and keep an eye out
for you.

[Deb P]

I haven't but I think DebP may have... I'm sure I've spoken to someone on here who has them...  :)

S'not me, sorry......they do sound nice though! ;D

[rugbypost]

Will have a word tonight with the boys  we all meet on a friday  Rugbypost

[saddad]

I haven't but I think DebP may have... I'm sure I've spoken to someone on here who has them...  :)

S'not me, sorry......they do sound nice though! ;D

Thinking about it it was probably Robert...  :)

[1066]

Thanks for the kind offers  :)  :)  :)

1066

[Robert_Brenchley]

are they an old variety? first time i have heard of them

They're old - they've got speckled seeds which is a good indicator - but I don't know how old. Mangetouts are a bit complicated to hybridise with ordinary peas (two recessive genes involved), and they keep the primitive speckled seeds up till the end of the 19th Century, when Mendelian genetics became well-known. They may well be a 19th Century variety, but could be older.

[saddad]

Salmon Flowered are another very speckled seed Pea...  :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I don't know when this particular variety originated, but umbellate peas were popular from the late 17th Century (Charles II popularised sweet-tasting peas here, after getting the taste while in exile) till the early 19th.

[1066]

I find the history and biology fascinating - thanks for the additional info Robert. I have to admit that I just picked up on the name, and then a little description then fell for them  :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I assume you've got some?

[1066]

not yet Robert, but I'm happy to wait this one out till next year.
I do have a plan b, I'm going to try to get over to Brighton for the Seedy Sunday fest (1st weekend in Feb). I've never been able to make it before (always seem to be away), and hope to try and find some of these and maybe find out about more Sussex and kent varieties while I'm there.

1066  :)