Cicer arietinum

<p style="text-align: justify"><span class="attr">The <strong>pea is an annual vegetable plant belonging to the Fabaceae family</strong> that has its very ancient origin in the Near East. It is one of the oldest vegetables cultivated in Europe and Asia. It was long consumed dried, crushed before cooking, while its consumption as <strong>fresh peas</strong> and as snow peas is more recent in history.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span class="attr">There are many varieties of peas: dwarf or climbing, producing pods filled with smooth or wrinkled round seeds when dry.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span class="attr">They are cooked differently depending on the varieties: after being shelled when the parchment-like pod in which they are enclosed is not edible. Among my favourite varieties to consume fresh is the <strong>dwarf 'Merveille de Kelvedon'</strong>, a reliable choice for its sweet peas and productive plants. To harvest more from the same area, I particularly like the <strong>climbing</strong> <strong>'Telephone'</strong> variety, which has very good tasting peas.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span class="attr"><strong>Snow peas</strong>, on the other hand, are eaten whole before the seeds are fully formed in the pod; for example, try the dwarf variety '<strong>Norli'</strong>' which produces long, tasty pods. Finally, absolutely to discover are the <strong>crunchy peas</strong>: these are fleshy snow peas, harvested at the same stage as the shelled peas, with the pod also being edible. For example, discover the <strong>'Sugar Lace'</strong> variety, a semi-dwarf variety with good flavour and productivity.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span class="attr">In general, <strong>climbing peas are more productive</strong> but they are less early and <strong>require the installation of a structure</strong> of 1.5 to 2 metres that they can climb. <strong>Dwarf or semi-dwarf peas suffice with a few ramified branches</strong> (from 50 cm to 1 metre) as supports. Some recent varieties, whose foliage is largely replaced by tendrils, can support themselves, making the installation of supports optional and harvesting easier.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span class="attr"><strong>Smooth-seeded peas</strong> are resistant to spring frosts. These are very early or early varieties that can be sown very early under a Nantes tunnel, for example, but they do not appreciate excessive heat. </span>For sowings in late spring and early summer, <strong>wrinkled-seeded varieties</strong> with a sweeter flavour are used; they tolerate heat better and offer longer harvests.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-48153" src="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/pois-varietes.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="400" /></p>