Author Topic: Drying peas (Read 1711 times)

docsal · « **on:** September 02, 2020, 01:03:54 pm »

dear all

Looking for advice please. Peas never usually make it beyond the veg patch/garden but this year I've also grown Carlin peas which allegedly are a good substitute for chickpeas. They have produced prolifically and some are drying on the plant but many still green. I don't want them to mould/rot, so what's they best way to dry them for storage?

regards
Sally

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** September 02, 2020, 01:14:35 pm »

I leave mine on the vine with a good breeze through - but I grow my peas under cover (in a polytunnel). For outdoor peas I would suggest cutting the whole vines, after a few good dry and blowy days, then hang them upside down under cover but with good ventilation ie in lots of small bundles - something like a lean-to would work. Then when the pods are all crisp pick them from the vines and store them in a basket to dry a bit more, stirring them up a couple of times a day. Finally when you are happy they are dry, pod them and store in a lidded tin.
What I have found is that the crop really isn't worth the effort, as enough peas for a good thick soup takes a whole row of peas to produce

but still, we love them!

docsal · « **Reply #2 on:** September 02, 2020, 02:28:12 pm »

oh - and there was me fantasising about having a winter's worth of pulses in jars! One pot of soup?!?!? $:-\$

Thanks for the advice though

Fleecewife · « **Reply #3 on:** September 03, 2020, 12:09:21 am »

Quote from: docsal on September 02, 2020, 02:28:12 pm

oh - and there was me fantasising about having a winter's worth of pulses in jars! One pot of soup?!?!? $:-\$

Thanks for the advice though

Maybe your variety is more productive than mine - they were rare breeds

Anke · « **Reply #4 on:** September 03, 2020, 11:32:13 am »

It has been so wet here any peas that I thought I might leave on to ripen more to save some seed, have gone mouldy/mildewy now, so all off to the compost heap soon...

Lesley Silvester · « **Reply #5 on:** September 04, 2020, 12:04:02 am »

I haven't grown peas since my first time because each pea contained a little grub - very embarrassing because my cousin and husband from Australia called, totally unexpectedly. I had known they were coming to the UK but not when. I started to get lunch and thought some peas fresh from the garden would be wonderful. Linda helped me pick them and pod them so she saw the grubs as well. They were actually totally unfazed and, once we'd got the grubs out, we still had the peas for lunch at their insistence.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #6 on:** September 04, 2020, 12:25:49 pm »

Quote from: Mad Goatwoman of Madeley on September 04, 2020, 12:04:02 am

I haven't grown peas since my first time because each pea contained a little grub - very embarrassing because my cousin and husband from Australia called, totally unexpectedly. I had known they were coming to the UK but not when. I started to get lunch and thought some peas fresh from the garden would be wonderful. Linda helped me pick them and pod them so she saw the grubs as well. They were actually totally unfazed and, once we'd got the grubs out, we still had the peas for lunch at their insistence.

We've been so lucky since we moved here 25 years ago because we don't seem to have any of whatever lays the eggs which turn into those grubs. Mostly though I grow sugar snap and mangetout peas which don't give the grubs time to grow before the peas are eaten. The drying peas I grew didn't get them either though. Lucky me!