Pea Blue Shelling Seeds – “Pisum sativum ‘Blue Shelling'”

🫛 Pea ‘Blue Shelling’ – A pop of colour with sweet, old-fashioned flavour!
Step aside, green peas — here comes the ‘Blue Shelling’ pea, a showstopper with deep purple-blue pods that stand out in the garden and make harvesting a breeze! Inside, you’ll find plump, sweet green peas perfect for eating fresh, shelling, or freezing. This striking heirloom-type pea is vigorous, productive, and adds a vibrant twist to traditional veg patches and edible borders.

🌱 How to Grow:

Sowing Time (South Africa):
Autumn to early spring (March–August) — peas love cool weather!
Sow successively every 2–3 weeks for a longer harvest season.

Germination:
7–14 days at 10–20°C
Soak seeds for a few hours before sowing for faster sprouting.
Sow directly 3–5 cm deep and 5–7 cm apart in rows or clusters.

Transplanting:
Not recommended — peas dislike root disturbance. Always sow directly into beds or containers.

🌞 Position:

Full sun to light afternoon shade
Cool-season crop that benefits from airflow and sunlight for strong growth

🪨 Soil:

Well-drained, compost-rich soil
pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline (6.5–7.5)
Avoid heavy, soggy soils — raised beds work beautifully

💧 Watering:

Moderate — water regularly, especially during flowering and pod development
Avoid wetting the leaves to reduce fungal risk

🌼 Harvest Time:

60–75 days from sowing
Harvest when pods are full but still tender
The deep purple-blue pods are easy to spot — great for kids or beginners!

📏 Height & Spread:

90–120 cm tall
20–30 cm wide
Vining habit — needs a trellis, pea netting, or support structure

🌿 Top Tips:

✔️ Pick pods regularly to encourage more flowering and fruiting
✔️ Eat young pods fresh, or shell for plump sweet peas
✔️ Try blanching and freezing for later use
✔️ Add mulch to keep soil cool and moist
✔️ Great in raised beds or along fences

🐝 Pollinator Friendly:

Pea flowers attract bees and beneficial insects — charming in cottage gardens and veg rows alike!

💙 Why Grow ‘Blue Shelling’ Peas?

✔️ Eye-catching purple pods for easy picking
✔️ Sweet, tender peas inside — great raw, cooked, or frozen
✔️ Beautiful and productive heirloom variety
✔️ Easy to grow with minimal fuss
✔️ Adds colour and charm to the veg garden

Grow your own rainbow of flavour!
Pea ‘Blue Shelling’ combines beauty and bounty for a garden that’s as delicious as it is colourful. 🫛💜🌿