Peas

(Pisum sativum)

Peas are frost hardy, old-world legume crops that thrive in cool, moist conditions. We moved here from Vancouver Island, where peas grow perfectly in the long wet springs, so peas have long been a favourite garden crop of ours.

Early sowings of peas can be made as soon as the soil can be worked and then staggered every two weeks for a continuous harvest lasting until hot summer weather sets in. To extend the pea season longer into the summer, late spring sowings should be in a cool shaded area and they should be provided with plenty of water.

Peas climb with tendrils and need support from stakes, mesh or each other. In my experience, the low growing varieties are best planted quite densely in wide strips consisting of two or three closely spaced rows with just enough space between the rows to fit a hoe for weeding. When planted tightly like this support from neighboring plants should be enough to keep them from flopping over. Some of our peas can grow up to five or six feet, and the tall growing varieties will need additional support of some type. Like all legumes peas will fix nitrogen in the soil.

Another use for peas that people often don't realize is to use the tender young leaves as a salad green. I think pea leaves are one of the best salad greens going, they're tender and taste just like the pods! They're especially good in the fall, if planted in August you'll have the best salads around right into November.

Like beans, pea flowers are self-fertile and varieties don’t cross.

Packets cost $3.00 and contains approx. 60 seeds, unless otherwise noted.

Shelling Peas: 

Tall Telephone (Alderman) - A high-yielding fresh shelling pea that can climb to 6 feet if supported. Pods are plump and up to 6 inches long. Developed in England in 1878.   Sold out

Triple Treat - One of my favourite shelling peas, Triple Treat is unusual for having three pods per cluster instead of the usual two. Great flavour and higher yielding than most other peas just because of that extra pod!   Sold Out

Sapporo Express -  A vigourously growing shelling pea that climbs over three feet and produces our earliest pea crop. A cool feature of this variety is that the pods press tight against the peas, allowing ripeness to be easily determined.   Sold Out  

The Pilot - A good shelling pea produced on 4 foot vines.   Sold Out

(new) Manitoba - Beautiful and interesting hyper-tendriled vines. Some of the leaves have been replaced by tendrils making these peas able to self-support very easily without staking. A good shelling variety which grows up to 3 feet.   Sold Out

(new) Mrs. Van’s - This one can really grow! With fertile soil and support the vines can reach well over 6 feet, totally covered with big, sweet shelling peas. From my old stomping grounds of Courtney BC, on Vancouver Island.   Sold Out

(new) Wando - Tolerant of Summer heat which makes it great for later sowings. Developed by the Southeast Vegetable Breeding Laboratory (from a cross of Laxton's Progress and Perfection) and released in 1943. Definitely one of my favourite shellers, it produces tons of dark green pods on self-supporting 2-3 foot plants.   Sold Out

(new) Alaska (Earliest of All) - Definitely one of my earliest shelling peas. Developed by the legendary English breeder Thomas Laxton in 1883, it was originally named Earliest of All but it was changed to Alaska for the North American market. It's been popular for over a century on this side of the Altantic, while Earliest of All has since died out in Europe. Grows to over 3 feet and produces lots of fairly small but tasty pods.   Sold Out

(new) First and Best #2 - An extremely rare variety from the turn of the century, as far as I know we're the only commercial source. Short vines produce good yields of fairly small pods earlier than most other varieties. An improved version of First and Best.   Very Limited Supply, 30 seeds  

Snap Peas: