Golderbse pea
$4.00
(Lathyrus oleraceus syn. Pisum sativum)
I am excited about this pea! About 5’ tall, with high yields of small, round seeds, which are patterned in yellow with a slightly translucent quality I have never seen before, making them seem to glow. I find the diversity of the peas, dry peas especially, quite wonderful.
This pea also has an interesting history. William Woys Weaver believes it to be the same as Danzig pea or the Polish variety Złoty Groch, and says it came to North America in the early 1800s with Prussian Mennonites (Danzig, then in East Prussia, is now Gdansk, Poland). One branch of my ancestors were Prussian Mennonites living outside Danzig, and I recently read an ancestor’s memoir which had some uncharitable things to say about the Danzig group, but I still wonder if this resembles the peas my ancestors grew.
In stock
Plant as soon as ground can be worked. Sow 1” deep and 2” apart, in a double row 8” wide. Trellis if necessary with twine or netting; can’t hang on to poles. Pick green shelling peas regularly to increase yields; pick dry peas when vines are drying down and seeds can no longer be dented with a fingernail. For fall planting, plant 6-8 weeks before first frost.