Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Andy H on June 12, 2005, 00:08:37

Title: first peas
Post by: Andy H on June 12, 2005, 00:08:37
Well not the first but picked enough to fill tub(1.25lb) the previous ones were enough for me to eat!

1.25lb were what was left after the drive home ;D
Gave parrot empty pod and looked at me with daggers :o
gave him whole pod and chuffed :D
I got moaneed at all the way home for eating them so I just said drive faster and there will be more left :P
Just as good for me raw and straight from the plant as cooked or frozen :-X

Love the peas............... ;)
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Merry Tiller on June 12, 2005, 00:12:45
Love peas too but I've never been "moaneed" at, it sounds bad ;D
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Multiveg on June 12, 2005, 12:03:22
When my dad had allotments 20+ years ago, I remember going down to sample the peas - they didn't have erm a good enough crop left for more than a couple of meals!!!  If I hadn't gone down the plot, I would think that the freezer would have been full!!!!
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Justy on June 12, 2005, 13:14:35
just picked my first pea pod.  I have to confess that I have never ever eaten a fresh pea from a pod ( :-[).

I carried it all the way home from the allotment and popped it with my son and his little friend.  There were 5 peas in it each slightly bigger than a ladybird......  but they were gorgeous - like little balls of sugar.  I managed to get one before the kids scoffed the rest.  I now realise that I was a bit premature but now so excited that I hope I can restrain myself until the rest are ready!  ;D
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: RSJK on June 12, 2005, 19:02:52
If you are planning on freezing your peas try to pick them and shell them as soon as possable and get them in the freezer before they lose there sugar content.
              ;)
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Andy H on June 12, 2005, 19:07:21
and blanch for 1 minute................ :D
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: ellkebe on June 12, 2005, 19:26:36
Mine have only just started to flower  :(  How long will I have to wait to try them straight from the pod?

Incidentally, was weeding them today and almost accidentally squashed a spider with her egg sack, buried in close by a weed root.  A bit 'agghh!' as I'm scared of spiders, but actually managed to make myself have a close look at her after OH rescued her.  Quite pretty really, I have to admit, but I don't think my nerves will take being ambushed in the pea patch!
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Andy H on June 12, 2005, 19:38:07
becky reckons about 5 wks but may be sooner for ones flowering about now. I thought it was a bit quicker... Ate loads today and only got caught eating ONE ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Nobbyman on June 12, 2005, 19:58:21
Oooooooooooooh!!

Freshly picked peas are GERT LUSH!!!!


Nobbs xx  :P
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Marianne on June 12, 2005, 20:15:27
Oh all this pea stuff sound great !  I will have to remember to grow some next year as I suppose it is too late this year  ???
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: RobinOfTheHood on June 12, 2005, 20:18:20
Oh all this pea stuff sound great !  I will have to remember to grow some next year as I suppose it is too late this year  ???

I hope not. I've still got two and a half packets to go at...
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Andy H on June 12, 2005, 20:29:36
Just put ambassador peas in modules today in GH.
Not too late but be quick(so OH says)
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Icyberjunkie on June 12, 2005, 22:22:43
 :-[  Peas still being eaten to bits by pea weevils.
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Mrs Ava on June 12, 2005, 22:56:18
We will pick our first load this week as number ones sons pea plants in his growbag garden are now covered in swollen pods!  On the allotment my Alderman peas are 5 foot and growing and smothered in flowers so a few weeks to go there.  My twinkle peas, planted earlier but in dappled shade, are creeping up the netting, so a good while yet.  Have another 30 plants in modules in the greenhouse, and half a packet of seeds to sprinkle in the planting holes of the plantlets.  Still time, still ample time!  ;D
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Andy H on June 12, 2005, 23:47:55
Oh! EJ you seem to have more than us >:(
Not fair...

between me and Scooby, not many are making it to the freezer :D

Best fresh and raw,no lost nutrients :-X
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: PREMTAL on June 13, 2005, 01:56:47
Hi EJ,
         Don't forget the Pea Pod wine with a small piece of bruised Ginger in it, a wonderful tonic wine(in small doses) but very powerful.

                                              PREMTAL ;D
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Andy H on June 13, 2005, 20:01:44
Premtal

So hows the pea pod wine made then :P :P :P :P :P
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: ruudbarb on June 13, 2005, 20:53:42
Oh all this pea stuff sound great !  I will have to remember to grow some next year as I suppose it is too late this year  ???

Due to circumtances created by the Ladywife suggesting I could do with the nice potting shed we happened to be looking at, which meant a drastic kitchen plot rearrangement along with shifting the double compost bins [full], I am well behind schedule this year.  I sowed some Kelvedon Wonder peas this afternoon, normally a March job, and will repeat again next month.  In the past I have managed to produce fresh peas from June to September this way and K W are very good for this.
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: PREMTAL on June 16, 2005, 03:02:43
Hi Andy H,
                Sorry for the delay in answering you, can't find my wine books, my wife has been on a clean up / out.

If you are a wine maker it is a fairly basic wine:-

Do not use pods that have been treated with chemicals >:(

3 lbs of peapods (chopped up)
3 lbs sugar
2 oranges (the juice of) (some also use some zest)
1 small piece bruised ginger root
general purpose wine yeast.

Put chopped pods in a clean plastic bucket, add 9 pints of boiling water.
When liquid is still hot but has cooled a bit add sugar and stir in to dissolve.
when liquid is lookwarm add juice of oranges, zest, small piece of bruised ginger and stir well.
Cover bucket with muslin cloth and secure with string or large elastic band.(to keep out vinegar fly and dust)
Keep bucket in a warm environment and stir daily, after 7  to 10 days rack off into a demijohn and fit air lock.
Empty the lees(all that is left over) onto your compost heap.
It should be racked off into another dimijohn after about 5 to 6 weeks.
The wine should be ready in 3 to 4 months. :P

This wine gets stronger with age!!! ;D
 
                                                        PREMTAL
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: clairenpaul on June 16, 2005, 09:38:07
Thats good news for us Clodhopper - with one thing and another we hadn't got round to planting any peas although we had bought some Kelvedon Wonder. We planted some last week and still have some left so we'll plant those too - thanks, other plotties had told us we were too late but looks like we're in with a chance  :)
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Andy H on June 16, 2005, 17:26:29
Thanks for that, so only real equipment is demijohn and air lock thing... What is racking off?

May have a go at this :D

Andy
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 16, 2005, 17:32:46
Racking off is pouring the wine gently into another container, leaving the gunk at the bottom behind. Since we use airtight containers these days, the oxygenation gained is vital for proper maturing.
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: ruudbarb on June 16, 2005, 20:53:03
Thanks for that, so only real equipment is demijohn and air lock thing... What is racking off?

May have a go at this :D

Andy

The easiest way to rack wine from a demi without dragging all the sludge with it is by using a syphon tube and a piece of stiff plastic tube with a 'top hat' on the end to keep the stuff out - visit your friendly local home brew shop and they'll put you right.  Most are keen enthusiasts and very helpful.  You will need sterilisation powder to properly clean the equipment and is easy to use.  Rinse well afterwards.

You could shove a bit of white wine concentrate into the must to give it a bit of oomph as peas make a 'thin' wine as do runner beans.  Don't forget you can make wine from almost every edible fruit and veg but root crops need an extra year to mature. 

Stay sober....... ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: PREMTAL on June 17, 2005, 02:39:43
Hi Andy H,
                In my rush to get finished I missed out the most important part. ::)

Having added the juice, zest and ginger add the wine yeast before covering the bucket.


                                                   Sorry about that ::)

                                                        PREMTAL

                                                                                                           
               

Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Belinda on June 17, 2005, 10:47:46
I realise this should probably be in the drink section but wanted to let you know of a website I found very interesting for all things to do with wine making - http://www.ralpharama.co.uk/wine/

Regards, B
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: littleweed on June 18, 2005, 22:49:54
Do peas pods get to the right size and then spend the last bit of energy fattening up the peas, my pods look (and taste) great but the peas are extremely small.  Perhaps I am picking prematurely ? ???
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Andy H on June 18, 2005, 23:00:10
with the light behind them you should see the peas in the pod and I think you pick them "just" before they are touching, nice though aren`t they!!! :P
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 18, 2005, 23:49:50
With practice you can tell from looking at the pods. Don't worry, it'll come. Look for the plump pods.
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Mrs Ava on June 20, 2005, 23:52:40
What you really want, the day before you pick them, is a good steady downpour of rain, followed by a nice warm sunny afternoon.  Then all your baby peas will be nice swollen peas!  I always give the pods a little squeeze, and if they are firm, I pick.  If the kids get carried away and pick flat pods, they get cooked whole!  Am picking peas daily now!
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Andy H on June 20, 2005, 23:55:40
Just picked 9lb(in the pods) Parrot thought he had died and gone to heaven when he landed on the table ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Andy H on June 21, 2005, 21:24:28
(http://publish.hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/peas%20starting.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
(http://publish.hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/pea%20heaven.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Doris_Pinks on June 21, 2005, 21:37:05
Crikey, how many plants do you all have to be picking that many???
Title: Re: first peas
Post by: Andy H on June 21, 2005, 21:52:44
Millions!!! :D

About 60 for that lot but got some later ones and even later ones just gone in GH!!! I just happened to say that we should do a few more next year as our 1st ever peas were so nice!

And Hey Presto! Millions of them handed to me :o
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