Pea Growing, 2022

[heirloomgal]

Not that much. The marshes where I actually fished were brackish water, some salt content. Gators are freshwater animals. You'd see plenty of them on the way there in the fresher water which is where I let the squirrels loose but almost never in the salty water.

The fish I was after were saltwater fish: redfish, speckled trout, and when I got lucky, a flounder. No freshwater fish. I saw several raccoons in there on the banks. In the canals and bayous I'd occasionally see dolphins. And birds of course, all kinds of birds. Surprisingly very few mosquitoes, but at certain times of the year the no-see-ums (gnats) were unbearable. Long sleeves, long pants, and a net totally covering the head.


I knew a girl in 4-H that had a pet skunk. Even with the scent glands removed that skunk stank. What were your experiences with that?

At first I kept him as a secret from my parents and had a neighbour who'd harbour him during the day for me while at school. That lasted about 2 days, but my dad was actually okay with it if not a little intrigued when they saw him. But he was just a little guy, not full grown by any means, and he was not de-scented. He had been stolen from the mom (and two other siblings sadly), and this little guy had passed a few hands before getting to me. I was ready to give him a home permanently until I started calling vets to see who might do the operation for him. Turned out, nobody would as the fear of rabies was so high. I knew I'd never be able to keep him after that and cried my 15 year old heart out. But, the neighbour who was watching him for me while I was at school told me of a family in a more rural area she knew who had kept them as pets for years without ever de-scenting them. They met him and just took to him right away, as they hadn't had one in years. I remember he told me they were a lot like cats. I've thought about that little guy over they years and how it worked out, I never saw the people again.

I don't recall any smell at all. What I do remember are the fleas that could jump from him to me, especially visible on a white shirt.

 

[heirloomgal]

@heirloomgal I've been reading old pea posts and see that you grew Biskopens (aka Swedish Red) last year. Have you cooked with them yet? I read an enthusiastic review of their taste and am now feeling non-buyer's remorse.

@Zeedman If you have a few Mesa to spare, I'd be willing to do an increase grow-out to help replenish your supplies. I have a flower bed in front of the house that is isolated by distance, buildings, and trees. Peas and grass do well here.

I haven't cooked with them yet, but I could because 4 feet of row gave me a pickle jar full. I'm still kind mooning over the fact that I grew my first dried peas successfully so I'm more likely to frame them than eat them at this point....

 

[jbosmith]

I haven't cooked with them yet, but I could because 4 feet of row gave me a pickle jar full. I'm still kind mooning over the fact that I grew my first dried peas successfully so I'm more likely to frame them than eat them at this point....

The first time I grew dry beans I put them in a fancy Anchor Hocking jar and displayed them for so long I was worried they wouldn't regrow :-D

 

[meadow]

I always grow snap peas, mammoth melting, and tall telephone.

catjac1975, with your familiarity with Mammoth Melting, do you suppose it could be a dual purpose pea, both snow and soup pea?

Seed Savers Exchange has this description and I'm wondering if it is a similarity of names or what is going on (since the online descriptions I find are only for a snow pea):

Mammoth Melting Sugar
Vines grow 3-4.5' in height. Standard vigor, high productivity. White flowers. Normal leaves. Green, straight pods become round. Non-edible pods. Best used as a soup pea with a smooth texture and buttery, slightly sweet flavor. Mature pods average 2.5 long by 0.5 wide. Smooth, round, cream-colored seeds. Late maturing. SSE Accession # 115304 CV Bu2

 

[Zeedman]

@meadow , I saw entry too; it raised my eyebrows when I read it. Their description seems to give the impression that SSE didn't think much of Mammoth Melting Sugar as a snow pea.

 

[meadow]

@meadow , I saw entry too; it raised my eyebrows when I read it. Their description seems to give the impression that SSE didn't think much of Mammoth Melting Sugar as a snow pea.

Yes, and then to say that the pods are not edible! Pretty much nixes it as a snow pea.

 

[jbosmith]

Yes, and then to say that the pods are not edible! Pretty much nixes it as a snow pea.

I remember reading this months ago and thinking that someone wrote the description on a Friday afternoon. Oddly it made me want to try it.

 

[meadow]

The "buttery , slightly sweet flavor" is what piqued my interest.

 

[Zeedman]

Yes, and then to say that the pods are not edible! Pretty much nixes it as a snow pea.

Given the wide popularity of that variety, and SSE listing it as a soup pea, I question whether what they have was crossed or mislabeled. Or if the person writing the description had their wires crossed.

 

[meadow]

@Zeedman Yes, I wonder that too. I suspect that may be the case for one of the beans I ordered from them, but will know more after seeing the plant characteristics.