Description
Alderman or Tall Telephone Pea Seeds 1965. Heirloom Vegetable.
Approx. 70-100 seeds/pkt (1-3 seeds/gram)
Since its 1891 introduction, this handsome pea has maintained its place as the best of the tall varieties. Plants grow to 1.5 m or more in height and produce enormous crops of large, plump, dark green pods well filled with 8-10 peas of high quality. This pea tends to have a longer flowering period – which is great for extending the harvest. Peas are good fresh and quite suitable for canning and freezing. This is an excellent variety to go with when space is limited and soil is poor. Alderman is resistant to wilt. Known by two names, ‘Tall Telephone’ and ‘Alderman Tall’.
How to Grow
Peas are a cool weather crop and can be sown from early April through to mid- May when the soil temperature is between 10-16° C. Fall crops are possible in hardiness zones 6 & 7. Sow in double rows spaced 25 cm with the seed 6.5 cm apart within the row and 1.25-2.5 cm deep. Space each set of double rows 75 cm apart. Peas can also be sown in blocks 120 cm square with the seeds spaced 6.5 cm apart within the block. Sow successive crops 10-14 days apart for extended harvests. Keep the soil evenly moist during the germination period or emergence will be spotty. You can stake or support row planted bush varieties for easier picking – climbing varieties definitely need to be supported. Avoid the use of high nitrogen fertilizers. Once flowering starts, it is important to keep the plants well watered to produce a good harvest. As the pods mature, pick daily to enjoy their peak flavour and to encourage more pods to form. Careful cultivation between rows is recommended to increase harvest yield. Removing clover and other non-crop legumes from the vicinity of the pea crop will reduce pest problems. Germination occurs in approximately 15 days.
