THE U-Pick GARDEN will be closing August 20th. This will be the last year the garden will be open to the public. Next year I'll be operating as a CSA, supplying about 20 regular customers with weekly boxes. Thank you for your support over the last 8 years, but it's time to try something new.

To get a copy of my book, "How To Grow Vegetables In Sitka, Alaska" just give me a call....The books are $20 plus tax. If you live out of town and want me to mail you a copy, you can mail a check for $25.60 to:

Lori Adams
P O Box 6021
Sitka, Alaska
99835


Down To Earth U-Pick Garden is located at 2103 Sawmill Creek Road in Sitka, Alaska. It is open usually from mid-June through late August. Hours are Monday-Saturday 12:00 to 6:30. On Farmer's Market Saturdays I am not open until 2:00. Children are welcome but may not run through the garden or chase the ducks. If you have any questions you can contact me, Lori Adams, at 907-747-6108 or 907-738-2241. My email address is downtoearthupick@gmail.com

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Pea Picking Time

We are in full Pea-Picking mode here at the u-pick garden....




I grow only edible podded peas, no shelling peas. I find that there is too much waste with shelling peas with very little product.



This year I tried something new....in addition to regular green snow peas- I grew yellow podded snow peas!


I thought the might be easier for people to see at picking time...and they have these beautiful purple flowers.


So it's time for another tutorial... and Ben agreed to show us how to pick pea pods!



Thanks, Ben!

HOW TO PICK PEA PODS
1. Look through the foliage to find the pea pods....they hide behind leaves and can be really hard to find, so sometimes you need to squat down to look carefully.




2. Select a ripe pea pod to pick. A ripe snap pea is long and plump like this....


...not skinny like this...


A ripe Snow Pea is long too, but it is flat with plump little peas inside....


3. DO NOT grab the pea pod with one hand and yank it off the plant like this...


If you pick a pea pod with one hand you might pull the plant right out of the ground!  Instead, grab the plant with one hand and pull the pea pod off with the other...


4. Rinse the pea pods and snap the tops off with your fingers. They should come off easily, but if the pea pods is overly mature and the cap has a string attached, then carefully pull the string off and throw it away. Stringy pea pods are hard to chew!




5. Eat the pea pods raw or cooked. I like to blanch my pea pods by throwing them in a pot of boiling salt water for about 1 minute before plunging them in cold water. Crisp-tender.


Once pea plants start producing pea pods they really kick it into high gear and we end up with more pea pods than we can handle. But they don't last all season, so come on out and get them while you can!


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2 comments:

  1. melissaJuly 16, 2013 at 7:02 AM

    Ben did great for his guest appearance! Those yellow peas are beautiful! I've never even heard of them. Our peas are done for now, which is sad because Christian just LOVED them.

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  2. LoriJuly 17, 2013 at 12:04 AM

    I like to try different things, but usually they don't turn out very well....but these yellow pea pods are a hit! They are SO easy to see, and they are tender and delicious. I have also seen purple pea pods, so this inspires me to try them too! What would happen if you planted another crop of peapods? Do you think they would grow, or do you think it is too hot?

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