Pea vine seeds

Hello you addicts. I am a newbie to seed saving. Last fall was my first time starting from seed and I would like to collect my pea vine seeds. There are a lot of pods on the vine and they seem to be taking forever to ripen but I dont want to rush. I watch them every day. Can I take some off the vine and dry them now? I also want it to keep blooming and I know the seed production slows down the blooms.

Dorothy

what kind of peas?

Regardless, you'll need for them to be completely mature. This means the pods will turn yellow (depending on what you have) wrinkle up and start to dry. You can pull pods when they do this, but no earlier. Chances are you are growing cowpeas since you are in the South. I generally let the last ones of the season dry completely on the vine till they rattle when shook.

If you are in Houma, you can plant more right now and they'll mature too. (unless they fry to a crisp in the heat as seedlings)

I am growing Peavine or Clitoria Vine which has pretty blue flowers that looks like the female part. I will leave them til they turn yellow or brown.

Dorothy

When the pods turn yellow or tan, the seeds are mature. You can dry them on the vines till they rattle, or pick the peas and let them dry. Leave them in the shells and turn them every couple of days till they are crispy. Don't put them in direct sun if you pick them before completely dry. Seeds will be dry enough to store when one hit with a hammer shatters instead of smushes.