Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: jo2 on August 06, 2004, 09:11:40
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I've grown these for the first time this year and am very impressed, really tasty peas and lots of them but I have a question.
I started picking about a week ago(they went in late) we are picking them every day once they get to size, just how long do they continue to produce? (ie should i be thinking about getting another freezer!)
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How many did you sow? If you have the space, another freezer probably wouldn't go amiss. If you keep picking, the more likely they will crop for longer- are there any more flowers? If you let them go mature (fatten up), then the plant thinks its job is done (i.e. seeds for the next generation) and doesn't do anymore (same with runner & french beans, though I read somewhere that runner beans are perennial)
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I sowed whole packet and have two 12 foot rows, they are still producing flowers and I've been picking about 2lb a day! Very impressed with the quantity as i'd heard peas didn't produce a large amount for the space they take which was why I sowed whole lot.
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I think then a trip to currys/comet/iceland/argos is in order then.
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I think as MV said, peas don't produce masses for the amount of ground because once the pods are full of lovely big fat peas, the plant doesn't have to worry about producing anymore flowers, where as with your mange tout you are nipping off the seeds before they have developed so the plant still fears for the next generation and continues to flower, in the hope that you will miss a pod or 2 and it will be able to set seed. ;D
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Do mange-tout freeze? Snap peas certainly don't. It's the crunch you want? Good soup, though? = Tim
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Bit envious here Jo2! We simply love mange tout and even from two sowings haven't had our usual amount this year. Haven't ever frozen them tho, but if you have so many it might be worth a try if you are going to sue them fairly soon. We did get a second freezer years ago for the lottie stuff and it is never empty...it's so handy to chop up carrots/onions/swede etc etc then just pop them for soup when required
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I've frozen loads of them, and the ones I tried from frozen were nice- they don't have that 'snap' quality but they do have really good colour and a lovely sweet taste so worth freezing in my opinion as still nicer then most frozen greens. Its a shame they don't keep the snap but still very nice.