How my garden grows - Visualize Whirled Peas

Our garden has started to produce a nice little crop of peas . . . and they are darned sweet little peas.  Half of them didn't even make it home . . . I just popped the pods and nommed 'em right then and there.  



How do you know when to pick peas?  If you pick them at just the right time they are amazingly sweet right out of the pod.  If you let them hang on the vine too long the get a "mealy" texture and aren't as sweet.  Ideally, the peas should be round and green. 

If the peas are kind of square and pale green, then they've been on the plant too long.  


They might also start to curve and develop a pronounced texture on the outside of the pod if left a very long time.

The good news is that you can tell when a pea pod is just ripe for the picking and when it's gone past it's prime before you open the pod. The old pods will feel fuller and they will be lighter in color . . . not a bright, vivid green. 


Pick the peas everyday as they're ready.  If you only have one or two pods you can enjoy them as a fresh little snack or freeze until you have enough to use. 


If the peas have passed perfection, you can use them in soup or dry them.