What Are Garden Peas?

Garden peas (Pisum sativum L.) are cool-season crops that include the common green English pea and the edible-podded pea. English peas are shelled and only the seed eaten, whereas edible-podded peas are eaten whole.

What is the difference between garden peas and peas?

Let’s learn a little more about each. Garden peas are sometimes called sweet peas or English peas. The pods are firm and rounded, but you must shell them, remove the peas inside, then discard the pods before eating.

What is the difference between field pea and garden pea?

Field peas or “dry peas” are marketed as a dry, shelled product for either human or livestock food, unlike the garden pea, which is marketed as a fresh or canned vegetable.

Are sugar snap peas the same as garden peas?

Sugar snap peas — or simply snap peas — were created as a cross between the snow pea and the garden pea in the 1970s. The garden pea is slightly sweeter than the snow pea but has a much tougher outer pod that needs to be shelled and discarded before eating.

What are the best garden peas?

Six of the best peas to grow

• Pea ‘Avola’ ‘Avola’ is hardy first early pea.
• Pea ‘Canoe’ ‘Canoe’ is a maincrop pea that bears long, slightly curved and pointed pods containing up to up 12 peas, on almost leafless stems, making for easy picking.
• Pea ‘Kelvedon Wonder’
• Pea ‘Hurst Green Shaft’

Can you eat the pods of garden peas?

The pods of garden peas, or sweet peas, are not eaten. For best quality and to preserve nutrients, only preserve what you and your family can eat in one year. When picking peas, or purchasing them, pick pea pods that are filled with young, tender peas. To successfully freeze peas they need to be blanched.

Can you eat garden peas raw?

Garden peas are also sometimes called sweet peas or English peas. The pods are firm and rounded, and the round peas inside need to removed, or shelled, before eating (the pods are discarded). The peas are sweet and may be eaten raw or cooked; these are the common peas that are sold shelled and frozen.

What’s another name for field peas?

Field peas, also referred to as southern peas or cowpeas, are grown on over 25 million acres throughout the world. They are sold as a dry, shelled product and used for either human consumption or livestock food. Closely related to the garden pea, field peas are annual plants.

Can you eat field peas raw?

The peas are edible at each stage. Snaps can be eaten raw, macerated in vinaigrette, or gently cooked, similar to haricots vert. Freshly shelled beans from mature pods should be cooked and can also be frozen for storage to good effect.

What are the 4 types of peas?

There are basically three types of peas: English peas, snow peas, and sugar snap peas. Each goes by multiple names, making the choice all the more confusing. But once you get the differences clear, you will probably want to grow some of each.

What type of peas are frozen peas?

Also known as shelling peas or garden peas, these are the same peas that are frozen. The pod isn’t eaten, just the peas inside. One pound of pods yields about a cup of peas.

What is the sweetest tasting pea?

Lamborn found the peas and the pods to be incredibly sweet and perfectly edible. The plant he discovered eventually became known as the Sugar Snap Pole Pea and in 1979 was selected for an AAS award.

What month do you plant peas?

About Peas
Peas are very easy to grow but their growing period is very limited. It’s important to plant them early enough in spring so they mature while the weather is still cool. (This means planting in February, March, or April in most parts of the United States and Canada.)

What is the most common type of pea?

English peas, also known as shell peas and garden peas are the most common type of peas. Garden peas have smooth and fleshy, cylindrical green pods that are curved and plump. Since their pod is tough and fibrous, it cannot be digested and this variety of peas needs to be shelled.

How do I know if my peas are edible?

Harvest sweet peas when the pods are still tender, juicy, and green. Pick them before the seeds inside over-mature and their pods begin to yellow. Sweet peas can be eaten raw if they’re picked while they’re tender and have brightly colored pods.

Are sweet peas and green peas the same?

The sweet pea isn’t a pea at all—in fact, the seeds of the sweet pea plant are toxic and not edible! However, regular, garden-variety peas are sometimes informally called sweet peas, so that is where the confusion stems from.

What can I do with garden pea pods?

You still don’t have to pitch your garden pea pods. Instead, blanch and blend the pods into pea puree, which you can use to make soup, add flavor to sauce or pasta or for a nifty spring cocktail.

Are garden peas toxic?

Since they are members of the legume family, people often wonder, can you eat sweet peas? No! All sweet peas plants are toxic. You’ve probably heard that pea vine can be eaten (and boy, is it delicious!), but that is in reference to the English pea (Pisum sativum), a completely different animal than sweet peas.

Why should you not eat raw peas?

If you only eat them every once in a while, your body simply may not be used to digesting them, which can lead to bloating and other uncomfortable symptoms. Summary: Green peas contain FODMAPs and lectins, which may cause bloating, especially when they are consumed in large amounts.

Can dogs eat peas?

Yes, dogs can eat peas. Green peas, snow peas, sugar snap peas, and garden or English peas are all OK for dogs to find in their bowl on occasion. Peas have several vitamins, minerals, and are rich in protein and high in fiber. You can feed your dog fresh or frozen peas, but avoid canned peas with added sodium.

What type of peas are field peas?

Field peas, crowder peas, cream peas (along with blackeye peas) are all part of a larger species of beans commonly called “cowpeas” or “Southern peas.” Despite their names, none of these varieties is actually a pea.