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 EDIBLE
PEAS AND FLOWERING SWEETPEAS
Early Spring is a good time to put in your edible peas and flowering
sweetpeas. They love the cooler days and cool nights. They will do fine if
we get any frosty mornings. If the weather should take a turn to winter
again they will just put in a better root system and when it warms up again
they will just take off and you will be very happy with the Spring show. Be
sure to plant them in a sunny location and some may need some support.
Look for eatables such as:
CASCADIA (Dawarf sugar snap)
Developed by Dr. James Baggett, Ore. State Univ., the 3 ½
inch pods are borne
on 24-32 inch vines which do need some support. This variety is resistant to pea
enation virus and somewhat resistant to powdery mildew. The pods are thick,
juicy and very sweet, all the qualities that make sugar snaps so very popular!
Plant 2-3 inches apart in 16-20 inch rows. Best for Fall and Spring, year-round
on
the coast. 58 DAYS.
FRENCH PETIT POIS (Baby Peas)
Darvon is a new elegant selection with extra sweet flavor; a
tiny, tender shelling
pea for gourmet fair. Darvon is a bush pea which would probably benefit from
a
little support to deep it from sprawling.
MAESTRO (Shelling)
An early and reliable shelling pea which is born on short 2
1/2 - 3 ft vines. The
slender attractive pods are 3 1/2-4 in. pods fill nicely with delectable sweet
tender peas. They bear over a long period on vigorous, disease resistant vines
which can be grown with or without support. We think that its best to keep
plants upright if possible, with branches stuck in the soil or some kind of
little
border fencing.
MAMMOTH MELTING (Snow Peas)
Vigorous vines produce 4 1/2 inch pods which are sweet, tender
and string less.
Prefers cool weather, and over winters in the Bay Area. Wilt resistant and high
yielding. To 4 - 5 ft.
SUPER SUGAR MEL (Sugar Snap Edible Pod)
The best and most productive of the Sugar Snaps. The pod walls
are thick,
sweet, and juicy. Harvest when the peas are well developed and round in the
pods. Super Sugar Mel is a new, heavy bearing variety with larger pods, more
heat
tolerance and resistant to powdery mildew. The dwarf plants require support.
To 2 - 3 ft.
Look for Flowering Sweetpeas such as:
CUPANI (Heirloom)
This is the first sweetpea to be cultivated, found growing
wild in the 17th century,
it was first cultivated in Sicily by an Italian monk, for which it is named. The
flowers
are two toned with deep magenta and purple petals, and the fragrance is
unbelievable. It's easily one of the most fragrant sweetpeas around. Cupani also
appears in Old Spice Mix, The 4-5 ft. vines are heat tolerant and do best
planted in
the early spring for the most prolonged bloom. (well into summer if you keep the
flowers picked!) 74 DAYS.
KNEEHI (Dwarf)
A semi-dwarf 20-24 inch bush type for bedding but with long
stems still suitable for
cutting. Large color range, fragrant. Could also be used in containers.
OLD SPICE MIX (Heirloom)
This is a blend of heirloom varieties with colors including
white, pink ,rose, lavender,
purple and scarlet. Intensely scented, one bouquet can fill the whole room. The
heat
tolerant vines grow to about 4-5 ft. and are best planted for spring and summer
blooms. 90 DAYS.
PAINTED LADY (Heirloom)
Another old fashioned sweetpea with a heady fragrance and the
added bonus of heat
resistant vines, which grow 4 - 5 ft. tall. Best planted in the early spring for
prolonged
bloom, well into summer if you keep the flowers picked. Painted Lady is a
bi-color with
deep rose and blush white blooms. It appears in Old Spice mix. 90 DAYS.
ROYAL FAMILY MIX
This is a premium sweetpea which performs best in the cool of
spring or where
summers are cool. When planted in the fall, it over winters uneventfully until
spring
when the vines take off to give you a show of a marvelous blend of pastel colors
and
including some deep rich tones of magenta, purple and red as well. The large
flowers
are long stemmed and fragrant. 90 - 100 DAYS.
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