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Vegetable Gardening

Southern pea problem

15 years ago

Last year, a friend had a problem with his Purplehull peas not filling out in the shell. The plants looked normal, as did the hulls, but the peas inside were very small.

My peas, of different varieties, filled out fine.

Anyone know what could cause this problem? It was only his Purplehulls. The Black crowders were o.k.. He bought more seed, from a different source than the first ones, and replanted with the same results.

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Comments (3)

anney
15 years ago
Hi, OP!

I suspect your friend's problem is nitrogen, too much of it.

Here's what Southern Exposure Seed Exchange offers about Southern peas: CULTURE: Sow seed 1" deep, 3" to 6" apart in rows 18 to 42" apart. Southern peas have cultural requirements similar to beans. They need full sun and a warm growing season. For best results provide a well-drained soil, with pH in the range of 5.5 to 6.5. Do not apply nitrogen which will result in poor yield and lush foliage.

Now, crowders are in the same category, so maybe the Purplehulls were in a spot higher in nitrogen.
farmerdilla
15 years ago
While over fertilization is possible, usually it results in poor pod set. If the pods set and the peas were just small, remember that purple hull is a generic title for several cultivars which have one thing in ,purple hulls. They range from small peas to relatively large ones. It is possible that he got one of the smaller cultivars. When most people say purple hulls they mean one of the pinkeyes
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I went to the co-op about 20 miles north of here this morning. They were in about the same situation as the other one. However, they did have Brown Cowders and Mississippi Silver Hulls and Big Boy among others. I purchased enough Big Boy for two or three rows to try. They'll be new for me as will Cream 8's. I usually go with Cream 40's but wanted to try something different. I'll plant Black Crowders with the white peas and Mississippi Silver after the english peas play out. My favorite are the ones that make a dark soup, but I like the white peas too for a change. Thank's farmidilla for the suggestion on Big Boy.
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Agree, but unfortunately typical of many vendors. Not only is the photo of an English pea (Pisum sativum) but the description is quite misleading. The only Top Pick that I know is a Pinkeye Purple Hull. No southern pea is hard to pick altho the vining types can be be a bit more difficult. This one was designed for machine harvest so it sets pods high as do most of the newer bush varieties. Quick Pick is similar. Green shelling becomes the problem for tiny peas like Lady.
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oldpea
Original Author
15 years ago
These were Pink-eyed Purplehull BVR peas. Some of the peas filled out to normal size but the majority of them were not normal size. They seemed to have a lot of unused space in the shell, even the dry ones. No seeds were saved from this crop.

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