The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: ellied on July 09, 2011, 08:56:42 am

Title: Peas and mangetouts
Post by: ellied on July 09, 2011, 08:56:42 am

OK the peas are now cropping quite heavily and I'm guessing the ones that aren't swelling will be the mangetout cos sadly I put the rows too close and they're growing in and out of each other ::)  But they might just be younger pea pods that haven't swelled yet ???

I've obviously seen frozen peas but never frozen mangetout - is it just a crop you have to eat fresh or can they be frozen and re-used later?

and if I get it wrong and eat normal peapods that are just younger, is that a problem? I've picked and eaten a couple of odd ones in passing but am needing to harvest some pods so more will hopefully grow and what i have won't be eaten by other little mouths ::)

Any tips on how to sort, separate, pick and store the peas and mangetouts?  I've never had success with either before so it's a new one for me :) 

Title: Re: Peas and mangetouts
Post by: Fleecewife on July 09, 2011, 11:31:43 am

Possibly the way to tell the mangetout from the podding peas is by eating some raw - if they are stringy and tough then leave them to fill out as they will be the podders.  Mangetout are usually very flat and you can see the peas as tiny dots along one side.  Podding peas are usually much more substantial even when the peas are small ie thicker pod walls.  Once you work out which is which you will quickly recognise them again.  Mangetout are best eaten quite young, although some varieties are much larger than others - up to 4" (10cms) long.  Much more difficult to tell apart are sugar snap peas which are thick and juicy, but again by eating some raw you can tell which are the fibrous podding peas and which are the tasty sugar snaps.
MT can be frozen - I snap them in half and blanche briefly then open freeze so they can be shoogled about afterwards otherwise they stick together in a lump in the freezer. They are not totally wonderful when eventually cooked after freezing as it is easy to overcook them.
My podding peas never get as far as the freezer, but I would do them the same way - pod, blanche brieflly then open freeze, as soon after picking as you can so small batches.  Then you could make peapod wine  :)

Title: Re: Peas and mangetouts
Post by: Dizzycow on July 09, 2011, 12:17:09 pm

You really are the fount of all knowledge. (Peapod wine? Liking the sound of that!)