Growing Purple Podded Peas

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With continued watering, a few weeks later the plants have grown to a considerable size. The flowers, from which the pods emerge, are now growing.

 

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Two of the flowers are growing pods

 

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The flat pod can be harvested early as a sweet and raw eating pea (although they are often used in cooking). They can also grow for longer, so that they swell into round pods for its peas to be used. When the peas dry they turn orange in colour, and the 'marrowfats' are usually used in soups.

The purple colour is caused by the pods' anthocyanin (an antioxidant) content.

 

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In their colour, some appear to be darker and others are green with purple patches as opposed to the solid colour.

 

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These pods, which have grown for longer and swollen, can be opened to use their peas.

 

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The peas can be left to dry in the sunlight, or removed from the pods and kept at room temperature. They will turn into pulses suitable for storage, which can be soaked and boiled. When this particular variety dries, it is called a 'marrowfat' and has an irregular shape and larger size than most other peas.

 

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These peas have been placed in a seed tray in a heated outdoor greenhouse.

 

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After two days, the peas appear smaller in size, show creases and are of a harder texture.