The Nutrition of Green Peas
Our cool, then warm, then dry, then rainy weather caused our pea crop to be later than last year, then they were happy for a while. We picked four good batches of peas, but we wanted to have more so we could freeze some. My plan was to have the peas produce and be finished by the time the tomatoes were growing well and ready for this trellis. As the lower levels of the peas finished producing, and the upper levels started blooming, the tomatoes started filling in the bottom level of the trellis. It was interesting.
Since the peas quit blooming in our warmer weather, we pulled them up and let the tomatoes take over. I think green beans would have been a better follow up crop, like I did last year. I just wanted to try something different and this was a better location for these two crops in my rotation scheme.
Green peas, are another crop that can be planted and harvested fairly early in the season. They will withstand cold temperatures and frost, and prefer cooler to warmer weather. Peas can be canned or frozen, and are great straight off of the vine. I had also hoped to harvest enough this year to can a few, which we have not tried before. We think they are better frozen, but don't want to depend on the freezer if the power is out for any extended length of time.
So, what are the benefits of eating peas? Their nutrients include:
- Protein
- Vitamins A, C & K
- Niacin
- Folate (folic acid, B complex vitamins)
- Choline
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Selenium
- Iron
- Potassium
Some of the health benefits associated with peas are:
- Low in calories; 112 per 1 cup serving; this may not be a desirable trait in a survival situation
- Contain phytosterols, which help lower cholesterol
- Good source of fiber
- Anti-oxidants
- Carbohydrates 21g per 1 cup serving
Even though we didn't get very many peas in our harvest this year, it is an easy, early crop that could add to our diets in the spring before many other crops are producing. I need to figure out how to increase the productivity of this crop for next year. There may come a time when we will be depending on early spring crops in our diets, and it may come sooner than we think. One of the things to consider is the caloric intake needed to continue producing food if everything has to be done by hand. This is one crop that has the benefit of producing early, but do the nutritional benefits make up for the lower caloric content? Is there another early producing crop that would provide equivalent nutritional value, with more energy producing content? Like potatoes? Would this ground be better utilized in growing another crop? Keep in mind that not all crops need to be high in calories. Part of the goal is to produce a well balanced store of food for the year, not just in the spring. The game changer here could be if this first crop was needed to stave off starvation. We're always looking for new food crops. We tried peas this year which tasted great, they just didn't produce enough. Food for thought.
Until next time - Fern
This is the first year, I have had peas really do well. I just hope this snap of hot weather doesn't ruin it!
ReplyDeleteI need to know the secret to success on a good pea crop, Sandra. Do you have any advice? I hope you have a great crop.
DeleteFern
Getting variety is such a good thing. We are really enjoying the Broad Windsor Fava beans, however the heat has slowed their production. Trying new things is the best way to learn which things work in your area. We did not get our peas in quite early enough, but I think we will get a good feed or so from them. We tried Champion of England Peas that grow tall and use less ground space to produce.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.seedsavers.org/onlinestore/pea/Pea-Champion-of-England.html
My mother always canned and froze lots of peas for winter use. I have also had very good luck dehydrating them and they rehydrate well.
Happy gardening and your "Dinner" looks wonderful Fern!
Trying different things to see what works in your area and your soil, is very good practice, Fiona. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteFern
I discovered, quite by accident, that if I let the peas go dormant, but don't get around to pulling them out, they bounce back in my midwestern garden and provide a late summer/early fall havest.
ReplyDeleteThat is really interesting information. I wonder if they would make it sharing a trellis with another plant.....? It gives me something to think about. We had actually discussed trying to grow a fall crop, but I had never heard of anyone doing that before. That wouldn't stop us from trying, so I am grateful for your information. Thank you.
DeleteFern
It was pure distraction. I had started in canning my other produce, and the peas had been planted as an afterthought in the back of the garden in two pallet beds. I hadn't been back there after they started dying off until it was time to check the progress on the Indian corn that was planted nearby and was pleasantly surprised to find them happily producing! I don't know how they do on trellises, and I'm curious to see if my heirloom Tom Thumb that I'm trying out this year will do as well.
DeleteI know what you mean about distraction and not getting back to things. Sometimes that gives an unusual or unexpected opportunity to learn. Thanks again!
DeleteFern
Another thing to think about is that peas are good food for your soil.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Spinnersaw, they are. That is something to think about if your ground needs improvement. Thank you for pointing that out. There is so much more to gardening than meets the eye, or the mouth.
DeleteFern
My father-in-law's rule was to plant peas February 14th. We made it by March 16th. We like to eat the sugar snap before the peas form right out of the garden, then when the weather gets too hot and dry, I'll let them fill out and make peas and dumplings!
ReplyDeleteSome people plant much earlier than others, Kelly. I have heard of some folks that plant their potatoes by February 14th as well, and others that wait until March 17th. I keep learning more about increasing the production of our garden, so hopefully, our pea crop will have a better yield next time. Thank you for sharing.
DeleteFern