Mangetout Pea : Oregon Sugar Pod

Vegetable

• Crops in : 68 Days
• Germination : Easy
• Aftercare : Easy
• Ideal for : Children
• Height : 36 inches

Description

This is surely the sensible way to grow and eat peas - no time consuming podding, no waste, just heavy crops of delicious, sweet and juicy pods of sugar-peas, often called 'Mangetout' or 'Snow peas'. Well flavoured and excellent for lightly steaming or stir-fries,. The pods of Mangetout Pea Oregon Sugar Pod are large and flat (4½ inches long by ¾ inch wide) and stringless when young. This is the way peas will be eaten in the future. It just doesn't make sense to go through the tediousness of discarding the pod if its so full of goodness and so delicious to taste.

Culinary note: Some parts of these flowers are edible. For more details about edible flowers click here.

Sowing Instructions

Sow seeds from early March once the soil has started to warm up and is easily worked. Sowings can be made every 10 days or so until June for succession. Peas prefer a deep rich, well manured soil. Make flat bottomed drills 5cm (2 inches) deep, 15-20cm (6-8 inches) wide, place 2 rows of seeds 5-8cm (2-3 inches) apart both ways and replace the soil. Allow 90cm (36 inches) between each drill.

Growing Instructions

Keep the rows weeded and once the plants are 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) tall twiggy sticks for support can be provided although this is not essential. Watering when the plants are in flower will improve cropping.

Aftercare

Start picking the pods just as the peas inside start to form, early and regular picking will also improve the cropping and flavour of the peas.

Nutritional Information

Mangetout peas and their pods are high in potassium and all peas are a good source of Vitamins A, C, B1 and folic acid. Peas also contain soluble fibre, useful in removing harmful cholesterol.

Kitchen Notes

Suitable For Freezing