Keeping seeds from peas (mange-tout)

[Little tom]

Hello,

I've grown mange-tout peas this year (Oregon sugar pods) and would like to save some seeds for next year. Any advice on how to proceed, anyone? I've left a couple of good-looking pods to ripe on the plants but I'm clueless as to what to do with them!
Thanks in advance,

Tom tom

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Tom, once you have finished harvesting your mange tout just leave the remaining pods on the plants for the peas to fully grow inside the mange tout pods. Then all you do is leave the pods on the plants to completely dry out (the plants will also dry out). If it keeps raining so that they will never dry out you can either cut down the entire plant and hang it in the garage while the pods dry out or cut the pods off the plant and put them somewhere to finish drying out completely. Then shell the pods. It's important that the peas are completely dried out otherwise they will not store until next year. With beans I tap a few on the kitchen worktop and if they are dry then they sound hollow. Put the peas in an envelope, write the date and variety on it and store them somewhere cool, dry and dark (I use a biscuit tin).

[Little tom]

Many thanks Lesley for this detailed answer, that's very helpful!

Cheers,

Tom

[ginger]

Hi Tom,

I used some of last years harvest as this years seeds (used new-bought seeds before) and it's worked a treat!

Good luck