Post by PatrickW on Nov 5, 2010 1:43:04 GMT -8
Capucijners are pretty hardy, and while they probably won't tolerate your full summer heat, they will stand up to quite a lot. They are a lot hardier than ordinary peas, so if you can grow any peas at all, capucijners shouldn't be a problem. You might be able to grow them over the winter where you are, and they will tolerate light frosts.
It's also never been a problem for me to send seeds or other things to the US. I don't think they inspect or X-ray most packages, only the ones they are suspicious about. In any case I have sent everything from seeds to garlic to yacon tubers over the years, with very few problems.
The only risk is a postage stamp or two. If you suspect low germination may be an issue, you can do what I do and sprout them in paper towels before planting:
www.patnsteph.net/weblog/2010/03/starting-peas-indoors/
In any case, whatever you want. If you want to buy them in the US, a better source is probably Baker Creek:
rareseeds.com/vegetables-p-z/peas/garden-peas/blue-podded.html
Last year they called them Blauwshokkers, which means blue podded in Dutch and is the name of a modern variety. The variety that Sandhill sells is an older one, that's probably not as good. The one I have is called Ezetha's Krombek, which is also pretty modern. Amishland Seeds also sell a variety that I don't know anything about.
If you buy them from somewhere else, an important distinction is if they are full height or not. There is a 'dwarf' version that still needs staking, and grows to about 3 ft. The normal, and most productive ones, grow to 6+ feet. I don't know what Sandhill or Amishland sells, but Baker Creek and I both have the full height varieties.
The pods are not nice to eat. They are full of fibers and too tough. The peas can be eaten fresh if you like, or they can be dried which is how I like them best.
If you want to eat purple (blue) podded peas, you should grow the ones from Alan Kapuler:
www.peaceseeds.cn/
His website seems to be down at the moment, so you might try later if it doesn't load now.
It's also never been a problem for me to send seeds or other things to the US. I don't think they inspect or X-ray most packages, only the ones they are suspicious about. In any case I have sent everything from seeds to garlic to yacon tubers over the years, with very few problems.
The only risk is a postage stamp or two. If you suspect low germination may be an issue, you can do what I do and sprout them in paper towels before planting:
www.patnsteph.net/weblog/2010/03/starting-peas-indoors/
In any case, whatever you want. If you want to buy them in the US, a better source is probably Baker Creek:
rareseeds.com/vegetables-p-z/peas/garden-peas/blue-podded.html
Last year they called them Blauwshokkers, which means blue podded in Dutch and is the name of a modern variety. The variety that Sandhill sells is an older one, that's probably not as good. The one I have is called Ezetha's Krombek, which is also pretty modern. Amishland Seeds also sell a variety that I don't know anything about.
If you buy them from somewhere else, an important distinction is if they are full height or not. There is a 'dwarf' version that still needs staking, and grows to about 3 ft. The normal, and most productive ones, grow to 6+ feet. I don't know what Sandhill or Amishland sells, but Baker Creek and I both have the full height varieties.
The pods are not nice to eat. They are full of fibers and too tough. The peas can be eaten fresh if you like, or they can be dried which is how I like them best.
If you want to eat purple (blue) podded peas, you should grow the ones from Alan Kapuler:
www.peaceseeds.cn/
His website seems to be down at the moment, so you might try later if it doesn't load now.