Preserving peas and mange tout as seeds for next year?

[mattphillips78]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering how I can save some peas and mange tout to use as seeds next year. Do I have to dry them first and also is just leaving them on a plate OK to dry them - i'd like to avoid using the oven if poss.

thanks,

Matthew

[jim]

Dear Matt,

Leave some pods on the best plant. The pods will start to dry out as the plant begins to die. With peas, runners and french beans I always bring the pods indoors as soon as they begin to dry and leave them on trays in a sunny corner of the conservatory. (My lady makes a point of sweeping around them with that patient, pused lips expression until I tidy them up.) By drying seed from the best, most prolific, plants you'll be intervening in Darwinian selection to get more prolific plants next year.

It works for us, hope you find it useful,

Love and Peace
Jim

[mattphillips78]

Hi!

Thank you very much for your great tips here - i now have the joy of shelling them at some point, he he! It is so exciting saving enough peas to grow from your own selected
d seed next year - this is our first year at the allotment and we can see how this is just going to snowball!

Thanks again, Matthew Phillips