Schweizer Riesen pea
$4.00
(Lathyrus oleraceus syn. Pisum sativum)
Carouby (giant snow) pea with bright light green pods of extraordinary width. Unlike some snow peas, the pods do not toughen the instant the seeds begin to swell; in fact, they become sweeter! So let them thicken a bit before picking. Our family waits for these each year with eager expectation. The name means “Swiss Giant” in German; Switzerland being a multilingual country, poised on its Alps in the centre of Europe, this pea is also called Gigante Svizzero in Italian.
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. Pick pods about every two days when they are large and the seeds have swelled a bit. For seed saving, leave some pods on the vines until they turn dry and brown and seeds can no longer be dented with a fingernail.