Unusual Gem – Dark Purple Podded Mange Tout

Posted on 04. Jun, 2011 by Tracey in How To Grow Veg

They say gardeners love growing peas and its true – I love growing Mange Tout (also known as sugar snap and snow pea). I’ve been growing a different variety every year for the past 4 years and I think I’ve found the jewel in the crown this year.

This unusual gem of a variety has quite a bizarre name of Ezeta’s Krombek Blauwschokker (also known as Ezeta’s Blue Krombek Schokker) and has stunning blue and purple flowers but the main attraction for me is the unusually dark purple pods.

Ezeta’s Krombek Blauwschokker Pods

The History of Field Peas

Peas have been cultivated and harvested for their pods and seeds since the Stone Ages in Turkey, Greece and the Middle East. Field Peas have also been found in Switzerland in 3000 B.C.

Field Peas are those which grew wild near wheat or grain fields and where gathered up and dried for their seeds. In medieval times, Dutch Monks set aside vast areas for farming field peas.

Heritage Mange Tout Variety

Ezeta’s Krombek Blauwschokker

One of these field pea varieties is still available today called Capucijner Blue Pod and its brown seeds were eaten in a stew or soup because the peas were so creamy they made their own kind of gravy. If you are keen to make this soup, try the Capucijner’s Soup recipe.

Field Peas are also well known for their colourful flowers often bi or tri coloured on the same plant. And interestingly, I stumbled upon this blogger Barefoot Kitchen Witch who noticed that the purple pods only form from the blue flowers and taking a look at my photos I think she’s right.

Purple Pea Pod Recipe

I can’t wait until I have enough purple pods to harvest because the first thing I’m going to cook is this vibrant Purple Podded Pasta recipe by Dish N That.

If you want to Grow Mange Tout, there’s still time to sow the seeds until the end of June.

Where Do I Buy Mange Tout Seeds with Purple Pods?

• Ezeta’s Krombek Blauwschokker from MoreVeg or Organic Gardening Catalogue
• Victorian Purple Podded from The HSL Garden Organic
• Capucijners Blue Pod – a dutch strain of field pea available from Amishland Seeds
• Purple Podded – a heritage variety from the 1800′s from Sarah Raven’s Garden
• Desiree – Stunning purple pods with green peas from Plants of Distinction

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