This is our found materials snap pea arbor made of metal fence posts and cattle fence panels. We were a little afraid the bed was too small to grow enough peas. We managed to plant 60 seeds.
If only 40 of the seeds germinate and each of those 40 plants makes only 2 pea pods per week we will each be eating 40 peas a week. The seed packet says they’ll produce for 6 weeks.
In reality, it’s much more likely that 54 of the seeds will germinate and each plant will make 10-20 pods a week. A and I can then eat 270-540 pea pods per week. Each.
That would be some 38-77 pods per day. And it’s not like this is the only vegetable we planted.
Granted, if you’re really going to cut your grocery bill by having a garden then you are not adding a handful of pea pods to your store bought rice, oil, and soy sauce to make stirfry. You are making meals out of peas. Lots and lots of peas.
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This reminds me.. I forgot to write down which peas you planted where in my garden. Guess it’s going to be a surprise. Lots came up though.
— CJA2 May, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Next I find myself thinking if it takes me 20 seconds to eat a pea pod how much of my day will be devoted to eating peas?
And isn’t there a great tongue twister to be found somewhere in here?
— k2 May, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Are you doing garden peas as well? The first time you have to shell 540 pods a week you may change your tune about peas.
But damn they are good to sit in the garden and eat fresh.
— CJA2 May, 2011 at 2:56 pm
And how many zucchini plants do you have? during one prolific year we had so much zucchini that we could do a complete dinner, appetizers, soup, choice of main and dessert with zucchinin. Any wonder that I am not now too keen on the plant?
— Barbara3 May, 2011 at 9:38 pm
Barbara – We don’t have zucchini planted yet, but I think maybe we’ll just do one or two of those. If we find we want more, I’m sure the neighbors will have some to share, and maybe they’ll be willing to trade for peas!
— A4 May, 2011 at 7:44 am
I did 3 plants last year and probably had 3 to 4 zucchini a week on average.
Check into deep fried stuffed zucchini blossoms as well. I wanted to try it last year but never got around to it, but it looks delicious plus keeps the crop in check.
— CJA4 May, 2011 at 9:29 am
CJA – Great idea. You know how we love deep fried.
— A4 May, 2011 at 9:45 am
We could trade cardboard for shipping boxes for peas or zucchinis.
— Cathy4 May, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Cathy – Good deal.
— A4 May, 2011 at 6:42 pm
How hard is edimame to grow? I recently discovered it at a restaurant steamed with sea salt on the outside, sucking the seeds directly from the pod. If you grew that, I might even sneak over and pick it in a nighttime raid. Or are the bees trained to protect the crops?
— Bill5 May, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Bill – I’m not sure if the soybeans used for edimame are the same as those grown in the fields around here (or if like sweet corn vs field corn, they’re totally different). I recommend you raid your closest soybean field and find out.
And the bees are not currently trained to protect crops. You would have to fight off the herds of deer that troop through the place on a nightly basis.
— A5 May, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Luckily, they taste great and freeze well!
— Nicola @ Which Name?16 May, 2011 at 6:58 pm