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[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Lynn Wigglesworth wrote:
> Wow; I'm getting really confused. In the north, "pea" means English 
> (shell) pea, or snow or snap pea...in the  south, there seems to be 
> dozens of types of  "peas".

True. To preface my comments, know that I grew up in an Atlanta suburb,
but my grandparents farmed in South Georgia.  My names for such are
largely based on the more southern nomenclature than Atlantan nomenclature.

We usually don't say snap peas.  Those would be snow peas or edible pod
peas.  Most peas are shelled, so that one stands out.

English peas are also called sweet peas.  I have not heard them called
shell peas.

Shell peas are usually a crowder type pea or even lima beans or butter
beans.  Sometimes people call black eyed peas shell peas.

Lima and butter beans are used interchangeably, but one is technically
larger than the other, and don't ask me which one is larger-I get that
confused.  These are a pain in the thumbs to shell, and I had many sore
thumbs as a kid.  Consequently, most folks call them shell peas.

Now there are field peas, too, and most folks that I grew up with would
put black eyed peas in this category.  There are a bazillion types, all
different colors and flavors. They are more beans than peas.  They
are best fresh, but are easily dried on the plant.  They yield lots of
peas and are also used for cover crops or animal feed, too.
White acre peas are another favorite field pea of mine, and I recall
that growing up, we shelled something called cream peas.  Both very
good.  I just took a picture of my red field peas.  I'll send it to you,
Lynn.  You will see that the peas are not a uniform color, some are red,
some are light brown.  I think that the varying color is why it is a
field pea and not a specific variety.   They are very, very good,
especially in certain dishes with sausage or rice or jalepenos.<G>



I've heard of field peas, but I don't think they are grown much
> in this area. Can you grow English peas all summer in the south? I 
> know that they do in England, but they have generally cooler weather,
>  even cooler than I have here. I've heard of English 'marrowfat' peas
>  (or 'mushy' peas) and I'd like to try them, but can't find a source.
Never heard of marrowfat peas.
No, I cannot grow English peas here all summer.  In fact, I believe that
it is already too late to replant(James probably would replant tho)
They are one of the first things that go into the ground here, along
with potatoes.



> I've made two plantings of peas (English...'Misty', and 'Lincoln'); 
> the first one on 3/17 and the second on 4/1. Neither has come up yet,
>  so I looked around for them. They have both sprouted and are at 
> ezactly the same stage. Boy, you can't fool Mother Nature, huh? They 
> will come up when THEY think it's right, not in relation to when I 
> plant them. At least they didn't rot in the cold wet soil like they 
> often do. I still have some 'Little Marvel' to plant.

They germinate on soil temps, as you know.  Here, you can plant them in
late fall and they will germinate in the early Spring, if animals don't
get them.
I planted Wando and Little Marvel for English peas, and for snow peas I
planted Sugar Daddy and Melting Sugar.  Between the rains and the
rabbit, the snow peas were a 100% loss.  I still have four or five
English pea vines, but what's the point.  I suppose I will get enough
peas for a fried rice dinner though..lol...

Bev

--
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public
debt  should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered
and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed
lest Rome become bankrupt.  People must again learn to work, instead of
living on public assistance."

--Cicero, 55 BC
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