Golden Sweet Pea

Seed Count: Approx. 25 Seeds

Days to Maturity: 60-70 Days

Description: The Golden Sweet pea was originally collected at a market in India.  This variety produces bright, lemon yellow, delicious, edible pods, as long as they are picked while still young and tender at about 3-3 1/2 inches long.  The flavor is described as sweet and somewhat nutty.  They're perfect steamed, as a pop of color in stir fries, or my favorite, eaten fresh, straight off the vine.  Larger pods, once seeds develop, develop strings, but they can also double as a dry pea for soups, if you allow the pods to fully develop.  This vine grows tall on 6 ft. vines, with ornamental bi-colored pink and purple flowers, and have a pretty long harvest window.  The Golden Sweet pea is rare and tasty, and should have a place in any home garden.

How To Grow

Sowing:  Because peas thrive in cool weather and do not transplant well, they should be planted outside 4-6 weeks before the last frost or when the average soil temperature reaches at least 40 degrees F.  If planting later, remember that most peas won't tolerate weather above 75 degrees F.  Plant seeds 2 inches apart and 2 inches deep, in light soil and full sun.  They also make for a great fall crop in places with mild temperatures.  Peas make great companion plants, but they do not do well when planted near onions or garlic.

Growing:  Before they bloom, pea plants need to be kept moist but not wet; after blooming, you should slightly increase their watering.  Remove weeds carefully to avoid disturbing the plants; mulch may be helpful to conserve moisture and control weeds.  This pea makes a long vine and will require support.

Harvesting:  Snap peas taste best when harvested as soon as they reach their mature length, but before the peas inside have fully developed.  Check the pods often for the best results.  Shelled peas generally taste best when harvested as soon as the pods have filled out, but before they reach their full size. Remove even the pods that have passed their prime, since old pods left on the vines will stop the production of new pods.  To save seeds from peas, let the pods mature fully on the vine; they will turn brown, and the peas should rattle inside when they have fully dried. If wet conditions threaten, pull the entire plant and hang it upside down in a warm, dry location to finish drying. Shell the peas after 1-2 weeks of drying, and store the seed in a cool, dry place for up to three years.