Little Sweetie Peas

SNOW PEA - Ho Lan Dow - Edible Dwarf Type

100- 150 lbs/45 - 68 kg per acre; 1 lb/454 g sows 150 ft./46 m. of row. 2 oz-/57 g sows 15 ft/5m of row

(Pisum sativum var, saccharatum) The snow pea or the edible podded pea is perhaps the best known of all Chinese vegetables. The pods are picked just as the peas become visible. At this point, the pods have thick, juicy flesh and the tiny peas are sugar-sweet. To remove stems, snap off the ends, this removes the strings on both sides as well (snow peas are not stringless). Just like regular peas - snow peas love cool weather, so they should be sown from early April for spring crops and mid August for fall crops, All types of peas require well drained, moist, non acid soil and may not germinate too well in heavy clay soils.

CULTURE: Sow seeds as soon as the ground can be worked (Mar. 30th. for the Northeast) 1 in/25 mm deep at 8 to 10 seeds per ft/31 cm. Since this variety of edible podded pea is a bush type, rows may be spaced about 3 ft/91 cm apart. Make succession sowings every 2 weeks until the first week of May.

GERMINATION: Since the seed is treated, you should not have a problem with pre-emergence rot, therefore seeds may be sown well before Good Friday - during a Jan. or Feb. thaw without fear of loss. The fungicide should protect them for 8 or 10 weeks until warmer weather arrives. Seed requires a soil temp. of 50 - 60°F/10 - 16°C for 5 to 8 days, and lots of moisture for proper germination. Peas like rich sandy ground - but not too much nitrogen in the soil. Pods should be harvested daily, when they are ripe (see above), so that new pods will form. Avoid the temptation to over fertilize with fertilizers which are too high in nitrogen (the first number on the bag). High nitrogen causes too much plant growth, poor yields and an overabundance of tender young growth which attracts insects. To increase yields, dust seeds with a nitrogen inoculant just before sowing. Apply fertilizer - do not fertilize when seeding. If the weather becomes warm just before harvest, avoid overhead irrigation -water should be supplied to plants in furrows between rows. Overhead watering during hot weather causes mildew. Cultivate as shallow as possible, to prevent root injury. As plants begin to yield - pick all the pods as they mature to keep plants productive or they will stop bearing pods! Follow peas with lettuce, carrots, radish etc. to make use of the land.

FREEZING: Pods should be frozen 2 to 3 hours after picking for maximum sweetness. Blanch for 30 seconds. Cool, drain, pack and quick freeze.

COOKING: Pods must be steamed and unstrung before eating raw in salads or cooking. Great in Stir-fry dishes.