Plant I Love: Tom Thumb Pea
‘Tom Thumb’ is an heirloom shelling pea that grows only 4 to 6 inches tall. Developed in the late 18th century, this super dwarf variety was originally bred for cold frame production. Its short stature makes it perfectly suited for growing under glass and the variety is said to be particularly cold tolerant. I’ve been wanting to grow ‘Tom Thumb’ for several years, so when I spotted a packet of it at the grocery store of all places, I snapped it up!
I sowed the entire packet into a rectangular wooden window box on March 21. The seeds germinated quickly and evenly and the little plants started flowering this week! I can’t wait to try the peas. I’m expecting 3 or 4 pods per plant!
May 28, 2010
When you planted seends in March, did you use cold frame or any type of cover? Or did they germinate fine in your window box? It was a chilly March/April!!
May 28th, 2010 at 10:39 amJenny–I just planted them in the container! It took them almost two weeks to germinate, but they all came up just fine! Of the peas that I direct-sowed, these are the first to flower. I’m still waiting for the sugar snap and Wando shelling peas to flower. I planted some golden India snow peas as seedlings and they are flowering too!
May 28th, 2010 at 12:07 pmI am curious where you found the seeds, and if there might still be some more. I would like to try and grow some for a fall crop.
May 28th, 2010 at 1:31 pmRonald–I got the seeds at the Co-Op in Mount Vernon, but you can order the from the Seed Savers Exchange (http://www.seedsavers.org).
May 28th, 2010 at 1:56 pmHi, awesome garden! I’m trying to grow snap peas from a nursery bought seedling and I also sowed shelling peas seed on my raised bed. Do you have any advice in growing them? It’s my first time growing these, I’d appreciate any tips. I just moved to the mountains in CA zone 7. Thanks for your time!
May 28th, 2010 at 9:41 pm.-= Priscilla Prince´s last blog ..Blooming Beauties =-.
Priscilla–Snap peas do best with some support and like consistently moist soil. Keep an eye out for aphids, they are particularly attracted to the succulent pea leaves. I like to harvest when the pods have swelled and the peas have formed but are still very small. If you wait too long the pods become fibrous and more starchy. Also, harvest at least three times a week! It encourages the plants to keep on flowering. When the vines begin to suffer in the heat, harvest all the remaining pods and then cut off the top 4 inches of each plant. The greens and flowers are a delicious salad option (or you can stir-fry them). Then, cut the plants off at the soil line, leaving their roots in place. Peas have a relationship with a beneficial bacteria that lives on their roots and fixes nitrogen into the soil. Leaving the roots in place helps ensure that you charge up your soil with nitrogen!
May 29th, 2010 at 4:20 pmThank you for the advice! The snap peas I bought from the nursery didn’t so well…It either went through a transplant shock, watered it too much, or the peas rotted being planted too deep in my raised bed. I’m waiting for the shelling peas I planted from seed, maybe I’ll do better with those. I have so much to learn about veggies. Happy Memorial Day, yesterday I took photos of my colors of the flag arrangement. Have a great week!
May 31st, 2010 at 9:52 am.-= Priscilla Prince´s last blog ..Red, White, & Blue Flowers =-.
I grew these in containers indoors starting in February (I got about 6 pods per plant!) They are fabulous!
May 31st, 2010 at 6:32 pm.-= Jaspenelle´s last blog ..{this moment} sunshine =-.