I planted Little Marvel and Sugar Ann this year (1st time planting peas). My dad told me SA's are snap peas, which I thought meant the same as snow peas (= edible pods), but the pods are tough and stringy, even when small. The LM's I shell and eat and they are fabulous...so sweet right out of the garden, none have actually made it to the pot yet. (My 4 year old eats them like candy. :))
Anyway, my question is, what is the difference between a snap pea and a snow pea, and when should I eat/harvest my SAs?
Thanks
pam
Peas peas peas peas, I'm a goober pea (X posted)
Snap peas have a plump pod, like a regular English pea, but the pod is supposed to fleshy and tender up til the peas are about half grown. Snow peas have to be eaten before the peas start to fil out ( flat pods). I have grown Sugar Ann and it is not a very good snap pea for me. I also find the pods tough and stringy. Goober peas by the way are kin to peanuts and the term is used by old southerners for peanuts.
Thanks! OK so I'm not just being dumb about my peas, the SAs ARE tough. At least raw...maybe I can steam them into submission. Any suggestions?
(Yeah I actually knew about the goober pea thing, I was quoting an old civil war song...my mom had the song on one of her 45s and I used to love it when I was a little kid :)).
If Sugar Anns are tough, you are letting them get to big. Try them when the peas inside are less then a ¼" diameter.
The best flat pod, Snow pod, are Ho La Dow from Stokes Seed.
Bernie