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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: tomatoada on September 20, 2011, 16:02:06

Title: Peas 2012
Post by: tomatoada on September 20, 2011, 16:02:06
I plan to grow Victoria peas again, but when I checked them on Nicky's Seeds I see they are now £5 per packet.  Does anyone know where I can get them cheaper.
I had a good crop this year and the taste was excellent even when they were quite large, but this does seem a lot to pay.
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 20, 2011, 18:00:40
It does indeed. The long-term answer is to save your own seed, which is really easy with peas.
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: Stevens706 on September 21, 2011, 07:48:30
If you still have the plants in the ground you will / might find dried out pods that you can collect the seed from.
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: tomatoada on September 21, 2011, 08:13:25
Thanks for replies.  All peas are in the freezer.   I picked 5 black buckets from 2 rows.  Hulms are on the compost.   All done before I noticed the price rise.  Next year I will save some.   
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: goodlife on September 21, 2011, 08:39:05
Victoria pea?..is that their proper name? I've tried to google them but don't seem to find them with that name ???
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: goodlife on September 21, 2011, 08:49:22
Ahh..is this it? If so..the variety is called Alderman..and you can get Alderman from any seed cataloque for much cheaper than that.. ;)
http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/vegetable_seeds/pea_seed_victorian_colossal_climbing/ (http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/vegetable_seeds/pea_seed_victorian_colossal_climbing/)
..for example..
http://www.simpsonsseeds.co.uk/shop/Shelling_Peas.html (http://www.simpsonsseeds.co.uk/shop/Shelling_Peas.html)
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: goodlife on September 21, 2011, 08:57:12
I hate when they advertize things with some fancy 'description name'...other year I ordered from victoriana nursery these 'colossal Victorian climbing peas'.. ::)...and yes, I already had them.. ::)
Victoriana nursery has only just added the 'alderman' bit on their order page..they never used to mention that, it was mentioned somewhere else on their veg storys... >:(
I grew the 'colossal' and alderman side by side..just to make sure..and they are same pea.. ::)
What kind of quantity of seeds are you after?..I might be able to help if Alderman is the right variety.. ;)
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: grannyjanny on September 21, 2011, 08:58:21
If it is Alderman premier seeds direct have them at 99p for 300 seeds + 59p postage.
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: goodlife on September 21, 2011, 09:02:53
Ahh..even cheaper.. ;D..how did I forgot good old 'premier'.. ;D
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: grannyjanny on September 21, 2011, 09:13:00
I'm not on commission, honest guv. They are so generous with their quantities that they are ideal for swaps & shares ;) ;D.
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: tomatoada on September 21, 2011, 09:16:23
Now I am confused.  I grew Alderman this year as well as Victoria and they were not as sweet as Victoria.
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: Jayb on September 21, 2011, 09:26:43
Are these the variety?
http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/vegetable_seeds/pea_seed_victorian_colossal_climbing/
It does appear they are also called Alderman.
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: antipodes on September 21, 2011, 10:03:33
I grew Alderman, they were excellent, despite a very bad pea year here. But not enough to save seed  :'(   :'(   :'(   They grow nice and tall, over 5ft. Good for picking!
I got mine from Alan Romans, they give a good quantity and are very cheap. I have gotten my peas from them for 3 years now and they have been very good. (when I think that here in France they sell peas and beans for about 5£ a box!!! it's over 4 times the price! Seeds here are terribly expensive.)
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 23, 2011, 19:34:59
Alderman and Colossal are different varieties; the page is more than a little confusing! I have seed of Colossal, but haven't grown it out yet. It's one for next year.
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: manicscousers on September 23, 2011, 19:37:33
Our colossus were over 10' this year, and loaded down with very sweet peas, Ray had to get a ladder to them  ;D
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 23, 2011, 19:50:28
My peas were a really mixed bag this year. Some - mainly the ones I was growing for seed - did well, others - mostly ones I was growing for food - did badly, a few just died.
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: pumkinlover on September 23, 2011, 20:11:44
It's first year I've managed to get a decent crop ;)
but the thought of a ladder to pick your peas, Manics ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: manicscousers on September 23, 2011, 20:36:58
I kid you not  ;D
This was july this year
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: pumkinlover on September 23, 2011, 20:48:26
I kid you not  ;D
This was july this year

Oh I believe you- just don't like ladders!
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: louise stella on September 24, 2011, 20:21:32
Do Premier seeds have a website? because I can't find it!
  ???
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: pigeonseed on September 24, 2011, 20:29:47
They have a shop on ebay. I buy from them too - they're very good.
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: grannyjanny on September 24, 2011, 20:34:31
premierseedsdirect.co.uk
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: pigeonseed on September 24, 2011, 21:53:41
I can't find that site, grannyjanny. Anyway, their ebay store is http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Premier-Seeds-Direct (http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Premier-Seeds-Direct)
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: goodlife on September 25, 2011, 08:40:27
Premierseeds only have Ebay store..
I spent ages yesterday searching about 'colossal' vs. Alderman. And I don't seem to find anything else part Victoriana company's site that has listed information about their 'colossal'. It is not listed (that I can find) in John Innes Collections of heritage peas neither.
Its been really bugging me..it really looks to me that for some reason they seem to trying almost like re-name Alderman as different variety..they mention Alderman on their site as the variety..but I wonder if their 'colossal' is sport from the Alderman that they have selected being slightly different?.. :-\
But like I mentioned on earlier post..I grew both side by side...and didn't find any difference on height, taste or pod size.. ???
Title: Re: Peas 2012
Post by: gavinjconway on September 25, 2011, 10:23:37
What a great site for seeds... thank you.
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