Blue Podded Pea (Blauwschokkers)

85 days — An old Dutch soup pea variety, Blauwschokkers simply means "blue pod" in Dutch. It may be the same as the Swedish 'Bla Orta' pea. This variety reaches the dry soup stage in about 85 to 100 days. They are also quite good immature as an edible podded pea but are a bit bland and too starchy for using as fresh shelled peas.

Even if you do not like to eat peas, this is a beautiful plant to grow simply for its ornamental value. The vines grow to about six feet in height and do require something to climb. The bi-colored flowers are shades of lavender and purple with the pods developing into a deep bluish-purple. This dark colored pods really stand out against the background of the bright green leaves making them very easy to pick. It is a good choice for a children's garden.  The peas are grayish-brown and wrinkled.

In Holland, like that of many Northern European cultures, the standard mealtime fare tends to be wholesome, unabashed, comfort foods that stick with a person through the cold. Soup peas have a long tradition in Dutch cuisine where they are used as the basis of "Erwtensoep", also called "snert." Snert is a thick stew of peas, pork, celeriac, onions, leeks, carrots, and often potatoes. Slices of rookworst (a Dutch smoked sausage) are added right before serving. It is customarily served with rye bread (roggebrood) and bacon, cheese or butter. Depending on one's preference, the pork and sausage from the soup can be eaten on rye bread along with mustard.

Each packet contains one ounce, which is approximately 90 seeds and generally enough to plant at least a ten foot row.