I am considering planting sugarsnap peas . Never done them before. As there will probably be a surplus when i harvest them is it possible to freeze them, and what is the best method. Is it a wothwhile crop to do?
Regards Brenjon
Sugarsnap peas
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud
Yes - they're worthwhile and they can be frozen. However, I'm not a big fan of peas that are home frozen - the commercials do it much better. I would also prefer to eat something when it's in season, but I can hear differing opinions gathering!
Hi Tigger,
Me thinks something must be wrong with your freezing technique 'cos to me my home frozen Peas taste just as they have come out of the garden.
I steam blanche mine until they go a very bright green then they are dipped into cold water and then straight into iced water. I don't know if this makes the difference or its the variety of Peas I grow.
I grow Hurst Greenshaft, Alderman and a variety supplied last year by Clive called Radio. Radio top out at about 6ft and have a very good crop. I grow 96ft of Peas down the row and freeze about 90ft.
I have only just run out of them from last year.
I NEVER have shop bought frozen Peas as I think they are the pits! I suppose it's each to their own but I really fail to understand why you don't like them. I have an idea that I am going to learn fairly soon!
Sincerely, Johnboy.
Me thinks something must be wrong with your freezing technique 'cos to me my home frozen Peas taste just as they have come out of the garden.
I steam blanche mine until they go a very bright green then they are dipped into cold water and then straight into iced water. I don't know if this makes the difference or its the variety of Peas I grow.
I grow Hurst Greenshaft, Alderman and a variety supplied last year by Clive called Radio. Radio top out at about 6ft and have a very good crop. I grow 96ft of Peas down the row and freeze about 90ft.
I have only just run out of them from last year.
I NEVER have shop bought frozen Peas as I think they are the pits! I suppose it's each to their own but I really fail to understand why you don't like them. I have an idea that I am going to learn fairly soon!
Sincerely, Johnboy.
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Chantal
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Surely these are the actual peas you are freezing whereas Brenjon wants to freeze the pods as sugarsnap are eaten as mangetout are they not? I can't imagine that wonderful crisp cruch you can get by biting or indeed snapping a sugarsnap pea will be the same from frozen.
Chantal
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yummyveggies
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Hi Brenjon ,
Also worth considering not sowing too many at once ... and try to space out the harvest by successional sowing. ( always tempting to sow them all at once ... but by spacing the sowings out by 3-4 weeks I have found you extend the harvest and don't end up with so much of a glut) sugar snaps however are one of those veggies that I personally can eat a whole massive bowlful with just a touch of butter and black pepper .... my other half refers to them as 'green sweeties' .... more addictive that chocolate ...
Now I have set the cat amongst the pigeons !!
Sarah
Also worth considering not sowing too many at once ... and try to space out the harvest by successional sowing. ( always tempting to sow them all at once ... but by spacing the sowings out by 3-4 weeks I have found you extend the harvest and don't end up with so much of a glut) sugar snaps however are one of those veggies that I personally can eat a whole massive bowlful with just a touch of butter and black pepper .... my other half refers to them as 'green sweeties' .... more addictive that chocolate ...
Now I have set the cat amongst the pigeons !!
Sarah
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steve
what varieties of sugar snap peas do you use as mine never have much of a crop on them.on one row a fantastic crop of peas but next to them a mediocre sugar snap crop.
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yummyveggies
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I have had bumper crops from Sugar Lord ( they grow to about 5 - 6 feet tall ( supported with twiggy sticks) and not bad crops from Sugar Lady ( not as tall .... )
Hello Brenjon
'Delikata' is a good mangetout pea because not only are the young pods excellent but they can be left to mature on the plants and will give you a good crops of peas as well. You can't do this with most mangetouts. Two bites of the cherry!
I agree with others that young pods are best eaten fresh - they will freeze but take on a slightly rubbery texture.
John
'Delikata' is a good mangetout pea because not only are the young pods excellent but they can be left to mature on the plants and will give you a good crops of peas as well. You can't do this with most mangetouts. Two bites of the cherry!
I agree with others that young pods are best eaten fresh - they will freeze but take on a slightly rubbery texture.
John
Hi Tigger,
I think I may owe you an apology 'cos I took it that you were talking about freezing normal garden Peas but it appears that you were talking about Mangetout. I used to be confused, then not sure at all and now I'm confused completely!!
Brenjon,
I do not boil anything any more I steam everything and I have umpteen on the go when I am 'Steam Blanching.' Steam Blanching is it is exactly what it says without any hidden agendas. I simply steam until the peas go a very bright green and I then immerse them in cold water and then put them in iced water to cool them off. I them lay them out on trays to dry off and freeze them on the trays and when frozen but them into portion size containers.
These are small plastic bags put into old large Icecream cartons and they simply do not stick together in the freezer and are very easy to handle.
I think I may owe you an apology 'cos I took it that you were talking about freezing normal garden Peas but it appears that you were talking about Mangetout. I used to be confused, then not sure at all and now I'm confused completely!!
Brenjon,
I do not boil anything any more I steam everything and I have umpteen on the go when I am 'Steam Blanching.' Steam Blanching is it is exactly what it says without any hidden agendas. I simply steam until the peas go a very bright green and I then immerse them in cold water and then put them in iced water to cool them off. I them lay them out on trays to dry off and freeze them on the trays and when frozen but them into portion size containers.
These are small plastic bags put into old large Icecream cartons and they simply do not stick together in the freezer and are very easy to handle.
JB.
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Geoff
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There are two types of mangetout peas.
Flat podded - I've successfully grown Delikata and Oregon Sugar Pod.
Fleshy (a bit like large pencil type French Beans) - I've successfully grown Zuccola and Sugar Ann.
They all are great fresh and very prolific over a short period but very disappointing frozen, seem to go strangely sort of slimy for us, particularly the flat ones. So grow short rows in succession - my first ones are just starting to flower in the greenhouse.
I'm also trying for the first time this year Golden Sweet yellow podded mangetout from the Real Seed Catalogue.
I agree home frozen Hurst Greenshaft are much better than bought - my first batch have just germinated in their rootrainers.
Flat podded - I've successfully grown Delikata and Oregon Sugar Pod.
Fleshy (a bit like large pencil type French Beans) - I've successfully grown Zuccola and Sugar Ann.
They all are great fresh and very prolific over a short period but very disappointing frozen, seem to go strangely sort of slimy for us, particularly the flat ones. So grow short rows in succession - my first ones are just starting to flower in the greenhouse.
I'm also trying for the first time this year Golden Sweet yellow podded mangetout from the Real Seed Catalogue.
I agree home frozen Hurst Greenshaft are much better than bought - my first batch have just germinated in their rootrainers.