A CHOICE

You have a choice now between

1. Climbing sugarsnap peas

2. Climbing (pole) ordinary peas

3. Bush peas

My choice every time is for one of the first two. The sugarsnap peas you eat pod and all, a big advantage, no podding, or a climbing pea that you put in trellis work. They are far less work, with less bending, and the bear more and longer. But, you have to have a trellis or fence. It's worth the time putting it in. You'll use it in the summer for pole beans.

The trellis should for best result run North-South so the peas get sunshine from both sides. Peas tend to get mildew, so they need full sun on both sides of the fence.

Sugarsnap are a hybrid, and the seed will cost you a lot more. But not having to spend laborious hours podding the peas makes it worth the cash to my mind.

A compost trench

Peas are heavy feeders (but being legumes they also put a lot of nitrogen back in to the soil for your next crop), so if you want tasty, healthy peas, dig a trench. The deeper the better, but at least 18"....

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Thought: You shouldn't follow one crop with a similar crop. So, if you planted pole beans on the trellis last summer, then dig the trench on the opposite side of the trellis for the peas.

No apologies for the untidy garden and crooked lines. The peas won't taste any different! You either have what I call Windsor Castle gardening (with three horticulturists and a dozen serfs) or YOU and I are the gardeners. Jup, I don't mind being the pariah with a few weeds showing and a crooked line in my How to Grow Peas manual, 'cause I KNOW just how tasty and healthy they are going to be. Prince Charles and I are about the same age, I've always felt a kinship (and not a little sadness) for him, who would be a king? Not I, said the little red hen! Nope, I wouldn't swap our lives for anything, I'd far rather be the pauper and enjoy a bit of dirt under my nails now and again! Ever read that delightful yarn by Mark Twain? The Prince and the Pauper ( princepauper/1 )

It's on-line and free and altogether better than Stones in my Clog, I confess, oh for the pen of Twain!. but my chiropractic stories are largely true, and lot more relevant. Perhaps.

New … hot off the press

It’s very easy to download this PDF file, no special Kindles etc are necessary.

HOW TO PLANT PEAS. Plant the seed about 5-10cm apart and about 1/2" deep (have to please everyone, eh! I wonder what Mark Twain would say today about people who still work with 12" to 1', 3' to a yard, how many yards to a mile, I can't remember but I do know there are 1000 metres in a kilometre!). Cover with soil, lightly pressed down.

HOW MUCH PROTEIN IS THERE IN LEGUMES?

These figures are in some ways distorted. You'd battle to eat 100g of lentils for lentil protein but 100g of ground beef or an egg at a sitting is not unrealistic, of course.

My point is simply that the whole gamut of legumes are rich in protein, nearly comparable with animal protein. Those that are dried appear to be richer in vegetable protein because the the water has dried off, but don't underestimate the green pea for example. You could with a bit of enthusiasm enjoy 100g of green peas, but would be hard pressed to swallow 100g of dried split peas made into a soup.

Lentils, chickpeas and split peas are the richest in vegetable protein. Try to eat one of them EVERY DAY. Yes, every day, if you want to escape the nasty lurgy...

A seed... a miracle

Follow my HOW TO PLANT PEAS this spring. You won't be sorry!

GREEN PEA SALAD RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

• Two cups of recently picked and podded green peas
• A finely chopped shallot
• A finely sliced red or yellow bell pepper
• Half a cup of broccoli florets (and if possible some of the bright yellow flowers)
• A cup of sliced celery
• Half a dozen radishes.
• A handful of very finely chopped parsley.
• Homemade olive oil + lemon juice dressing.
• Half a cup of yoghurt.
• A good handful of nuts and seeds. My favourites are the pecan and sunflower.

METHOD

1. If the peas are young, briefly steam them and the broccoli florets for a 2-3 minutes. Longer if they are older. Drain, keeping the water.
2. Meantime make up a bed of lettuce and rocket in your favourite pretty bowl.
3. In a mixing bowl, chuck in the celery, shallot and nuts and seeds. Add the yoghurt and a teaspoon of raw honey if you know a local beekeeper. Bought honey ain't worth having. Mix them up. A shake of S&P, freshly ground.
4. Dump the steamed peas and broccoli florets on the lettuce, pour salads and yoghurt mix.
5. Arrange the thinly sliced peppers and radish prettily, sprinkle the parsley thickly, and finally the raw broccoli flowers. They're not just a garnish, delic.
6. Let your guests add the olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice and a little of the left over pea water from a decanter.
7. Let your green pea salad recipe chill for half an hour whilst you chill out with a glass of red wine!

How many will it serve? How long is a piece of string? Come on, you've been cooking long enough to guestimate. It depends of what else you're serving, but rather serve more of your pea salad recipe, and then a small helping of roast beef and potatoes, and butternut, of course.

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CONFESSION

NITROGEN FIXATION

Any crop that follows a legume will blossom from the nitrogen these little friendly bacteria leave behind.

WEIGHT LOSS

Legumes are part of the solution. Take a look at this page: HIGH PROTEIN LOW FAT FOODS ...

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HOW TO GROW PEAS

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