Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy
Mangetout peas, Pisum sativum, have become a popular alternative to standard shelling varieties. They are grown in the same way, but harvested while the pods are still flat and the peas inside barely visible. Mangetout pea plants are very hardy, and may be sown in autumn to overwinter and provide early pickings the following spring. Crops remain usable for several weeks before the peas eventually swell and make the pods coarse and fibrous. Mangetout peas are perfect for eating raw in salads or steamed or stir-fried.
Pisum sativum 'Shiraz' is the first commercially grown purple-podded variety. It bears attractive bicoloured flowers which develop into flat, purple pods. The purple colour fades to green when cooked. 'Shiraz' is a fantastic mangetout pea, showing good resistance to powdery mildew and downy mildew. It works just as well in ornamental borders as the vegetable patch.
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Pisum ‘Shiraz’ and wildlife
Pisum ‘Shiraz’ is known for attracting bees. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.