Pea Hurst Greenshaft

[Monika]

I was podding our Hurst Greenshaft peas today and found one with 12 peas!!! Is that unusual? There were quite a few 11ers and lots with 10, but it's certainly the first time I have come across one with 12! In case you think I counted the peas in every pod, I didn't, just in those which looked particularly full. It breaks up the monotony of podding a large Brinicomb bucket full of peas!

[glallotments]

I was podding buckets of Greenshaft too but must admit I didn't count the peas. Too busy checking for maggots!!!

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Monika, i can't recall seeing 12 peas in a pod, but i will be checking from now on.

[macmac]

pea counting....mmm

[glallotments]

I suppose even more sad though I have been known to count the 'wrappers' on the sweet corn cobs when removing again to try to prevent boredom.

[Johnboy]

Hi Monika,
I suspect that contributors to date have missed the point! You were making an credible observation not counting every b------y Pea.
Hurst Greenshaft a generally reckoned to produce 9 and occasionally 10 peas per pod and sometimes considerably less. To have anything is excess of this is in deed unusual.
I'm prepared to take a bet that if it was the other way round and they were only getting 3 to 4 peas per pod they would be counting! And moaning!
BTW I have picked around 90lbs(shelled )of Hurst Greenshaft Peas and have yet to find a maggot. Suspect I may regret this comment as it will soon be time to pick the Alderman and they will probably be full of them.
JB.

[macmac]

Calm down Johnboy I was only trying to raise a smlie
I too have been known to count peas the OH keeps a log of how many cucumbers he picks and this year he's bought plants for lottie mates and got a bit of a challenge going with them.the peas in question are my favourite variety for the very reason they feature in this thread

[Beryl]

I don't count peas but always grow Hurst Green Shaft for the very reason they are always well filled, grow in pairs so easy to cut and harvest. I would say 9 - 10 would be about average for most pods and like JB have never had a problem with the pea moth.

Beryl.

[glallotments]

BTW I have picked around 90lbs(shelled )of Hurst Greenshaft Peas and have yet to find a maggot. Suspect I may regret this comment as it will soon be time to pick the Alderman and they will probably be full of them.
JB.

The peas that we picked earlier (before the pea moth is really active) in the year were caterpillar free but the latest lot had quite a few caterpillars.

[Monika]

I suppose that's the advantage of having an allotment in a very exposed position: you don't get many creepy-crawlies. I have certainly never had maggots in the peas. And, funnily, although we have seen some cabbage white butterflies this summer, all the calabrese and cauliflowers have been really clean and caterpillar-free to date which has made a change - usually we find the poor, boiled corpses on the plate, hopefully MY plate!.

On the very 12-pea pod, I wish now I had taken a photo!

[Colin Miles]

I have grown Greenshaft for the first time since the 60's or whenever it first came out. Very good crop and so many peas in some pods that I did occasionally count them - 11, 12, yes, and even 13. Didn't think it was unusual. Maybe the weather could be the cause.

[Elaine]

We grew Grenshaft for the first time this year and will definitely grow them again for all the reasons in the previous posts..and they taste so good!
Most of the pods contained at least 10 peas and a few had 11 or 12. No maggots either!
Cheers.

[Brenjon]

Hi JB
I am intriuged to know what you do with 90lbs of peas plus all the other peas and veg that you grow and freeze. I know the obvious answer is eat them but perhaps you could enlarge on this.
Regards Brenjon

[Johnboy]

Hi Brenjon,
I have three daughters who visit regularly and I keep them going with Peas as well as myself. When the weather permits the Alderman Peas are ready to pick and there are two 32ft rows to pick sown at the rate of about 18 peas to the foot. Then there are two more rows of Peas that are even taller than Alderman to come on stream in about a month.
I have a 21cu ft freezer designated to Peas only all frozen in neat square packs. 90lbs just covers the bottom with room for three more layers.
JB.

[Brenjon]

Thanks for that info JB.as well as using the forum you obviously spend a great deal of time on your allotment to get the results that you do.
Regards Brenjon