Numpty question

[Millymollymandy]

Sorry guys, silly question time! How will I know when my peas are ready to pick? Will it be obvious? The pods are swelling up but as I hate peas and have never bought any fresh and can't remember podding them since my grandmother was alive back in the 70s sometime I'm a bit unsure.

And if you wonder why am I growing them if I hate them it's because my hubby loves them and I thought I might just like them myself if I grew them and tasted them fresh from the garden!

[JulieSherris]

Mmmmm.... raw peas - I can't wait!!

When the pods are big & fat & hard, then pick 'em! You can feel the peas inside the pods, so you'll know how big they are - some folks like the younger peas, which are nice & sweet, but the bigger pea is lovely too.
You'll know when they're ready MMM - pod a few different sizes & you'll soon see the difference & then you'll know whether to leave them or get them whilst they are small.

[Green Aura]

Not too big, MMM, take no notice of the cornflake queen - she's hooked on carbs
Smaller one - about 5mm - are sweet and juicy - much bigger and they taste starchy.

but seriously, Julie's advice to try different sizes is good. Then you'll find out how you prefer them.

[Millymollymandy]

I haven't got that many because I didn't want to sow loads in case I still hated them. Maybe we'll try the biggest pod and see what is inside. I did eat the first pod as a mange tout and that was lovely but then I like mange tout and I'm growing them too - which are now about ready to eat!

[Millymollymandy]

Ok so I picked 4 huge fat pods but they were very small inside, biggest about 4mm. Very tasty though! Not worth trying to cook them so I do understand why so many people just eat them raw.

[Odsox]

Easy peasy !!
You gently squeeze the pod and if it "gives" it needs a few more days .. if it feels solid, it's ready.
I can't get my head around that there's a person out there that doesn't like fresh peas.
Weird or what ......

[pelmetman]

Peti Pois MMM
Sue

[JulieSherris]

Weird or what ......

But Tony, isn't that what makes us all such smashing friends?

Anyway.... pot, kettle........

[Millymollymandy]

Easy peasy !!
You gently squeeze the pod and if it "gives" it needs a few more days .. if it feels solid, it's ready.
I can't get my head around that there's a person out there that doesn't like fresh peas.
Weird or what ......

But I do like them fresh - so far what I don't like are frozen peas or just the peas that I was always served with fish (or fishfingers) and chips when I was a child - whatever they might have been, fresh or frozen. I always left them and couldn't understand why they had to bespoil my plate with said vile things. I hated runner beans too as I only had memories of horrid stringy things and marrow I have not touched to this day because I remember what my grandma did with them - much the same as overcooked courgette anyway which is pretty 'orrible.

So I am doing the right thing by TRYING all these veg to see whether eating them fresh and from my garden makes a difference, and so far so good!

[Millymollymandy]

But I draw the line at Brussel Sprouts!!!

[Odsox]

Ah yes ... little green balls of winey tasting crap ... out of a birds eye or some other orifice.
Now I understand, as I can't see how anybody can willingly eat such crap.

Only problem MMM is that you may well end up like me growing 4 x 20' rows of the stuff, plus short rows of mange tout as a "fill in" crop.

[JulieSherris]

I have 10 4ft rows, and then some pea wigwam stylee in another bed & a few rows are planned for the polytunnel ends as well - happy, happy - and long may our pea season last this year!

[Odsox]

Julie, there is no need to grow peas in the end of a polytunnel as they don't need pollinating, so will grow just as well in the middle if that is more convenient.
Beans on the other hand, do need bees and that is where I grow a wigwam of runner beans to harvest later in the year (after the first autumn gale has destroyed the outdoor ones)

[JulieSherris]

I'm popping the peas at the ends of the tunnels because I can get a pea net up there easily - so that's 3 tunnels, meaning 6 raised beds... 12 ends of 2ft a go - smashing!

[snapdragon]

But I draw the line at Brussel Sprouts!!!

But have you tried them raw??? lovely sliced up in a winter salad, do try it