Hello!

[triffid]

Good evening all,

I'm a new allotmenteer and novice when it comes to cultivating in the earth; my compulsion to grow things has previously been limited to the patio container!

Currently in the ground is a patch of 'Sussex heritage' wheat as winter cover, and some broad beans.

Peas are my focus for the coming season and I plan to save seed from some heritage varieties and try my hand at breeding, too. I know there is much to learn from this forum about this legume!

Best,
triffid.

[clumsy]

Hi welcome to the forum. We do have experts on peas they should be around soon.

[Veggie]

Hello Triffid and welcome. I'm quite new here too but there are lots of knowledgeable people here to help you.

[Galina]

Hi triffid and nice to meet you. Well it will be good to compare pea notes with you. What types of peas are you interested in? I grow all, but my main breeding interest is in mangetout and snap peas.

[triffid]

Mangetout are fantastic! Discovering Rebsie Fairholm's red-podded led me down this rabbit hole to the pea fanciers' domain. I've always thought peas and pea vines are quaint and lovely (to me the flowers and tendrils have a cute factor), but now I have an allotment I can get serious. A trait that has piqued my interest is multi-node blooms. Also breeding pretty flower colouration wasn't something I had considered until reading this forum. Apart from that I'm in it for the weird and wonderful!

[jayb]

Hello and Welcome Triffid, sounds like you have lots of lovely plans for the year ahead What heritage varieties are you planning on growing?

ps love your avatar!

[triffid]

Thanks jayb!

Perhaps too many - hope to make room for Rosakrone, Bijou, Kent Blue, Panthers, Freer's Mummy, Bullroyd Bean Pea, Stokesley, Robinson and Clark's Beltony Blue for saving seed. I trialed Champion of England and Golden Sweet last year - very tasty & are more widespread so if I grow those it'll be for the table.

[Galina]

Yes, we don't know why Rebsie stopped writing, but she has certainly started something. For me it was Carol Deppe's book "Breed your own vegetable varieties" that started the pea madness. And a beginners luck breeding success. Have been far less successful with red podded mangetout and snap pea breeding. Like Rebsie I have a fully red shelling pea, but that does not really count. Purple and by extension red is a tricky colour to achieve in mangetouts.

[triffid]

She's had excellent good fortune with her mangetout line, even honoured it with a name!
http://daughterofthesoil.blogspot.co...nd-beyond.html

[jayb]

Stunning!

[jayb]

Thanks for sharing.

[jayb]

Rosakrone looks similar to Salmon Flowered, I do love Crown peas How did you find them?

I've not heard of Panthers pea, they sound good from the HSL blurb. Are they one to look out for?

[triffid]

Yes its possible they're the same. Very pretty but they didn't have much of a good time last year, powdery mildew really took its toll.

Panthers is a smashing variety, in my opinion. Had huge plants last spring, here's a photo. No pests except pigeons. Everyone who tried them commented on the flavour and sweetness. Wish I had more to eat, and haven't tried them cooked, but was saving seed. Now I have plenty to grow and share, pm me I'll send you a packet.

[jayb]

Feel for you, Powdery mildew is such a nightmare.

Wow, those leaves look humongous (or is it humungous?) whichever they look BIG!