My peas started off SO promising. I loved the way the little tendrils grabbed onto the trellis. I couldn't have been more excited than if my own child (if I had one that is) had just learned walk.
Upon reflection I think it's pretty obvious that I over-planted the peas in this pot. In fact now that take a long hard look at myself I pretty much overcrowd everything I plant...not a good trait in a balcony gardener. That all said and done, despite there being FIVE pants in this pot (there were more but I did pull some out) the flowers kept flowering and then PEAS arrived...so exciting.
Not long after the arrival of the peas however I noticed that the bottom leaves start to turn brown and become sort of crunchy...like the plant was dying from the bottom up. I ignored it and it got worse (funny about that).
I finally sought help from twitter. People thought I might be over-watering the plant (who me?) and perhaps the pot was also sitting in a pool of water in the run-off tray causing a kind of rot. Hmm, nope. Someone else suggested it could be "white mould" and that a spray of milk/water might kill the bacteria. I did try the spray but it just made my balcony stink of sour milk - blerch! I was also told that peas just "do this" once they've fruited...but that my peas were also sick so it was dying quicker than normal. When it comes to peas I guess I have a brown thumb.
Whatever the problem was I knew that I had to get the peas off the bush before they started to go slimy and rotten too. I needed to give peas a chance (ha ha, get it - give "peas" a chance. Peas = Peace...anyway...). I probably only had 20 pea pods but shelling them was fun, especially as I got to sample a few peas straight from the pod - they were like sweet, fresh little dots.
Once again - sorry about the terrible photography/styling - I swear that this dish is DELICIOUS although my photographic abilities may lead you to think otherwise. This recipe for Spanish Rice Chorizo from The Stone Soup is a staple in my house. Sometimes I add baby spinach from my garden and this seemed like the perfect dish to chuck my handful of peas into.
Bye bye peas - you were wonderful, though short lived.
You can see more Harvest Monday at Daphne's Dandelions.
