To Pea or Not to Pea.
Welcome to our new monthly Andra blog focused on our instructor Beth’s allotment.
Each month Beth will be talking us through what she has been growing and what we can cook or make with the produce from that month. Beth and her husband have started an Instagram page for their allotment called @pipsandhoes for anyone who would like to know more. Over to Beth…
The sun is shining and there is blossom on the trees and it is almost coming up to the first year anniversary of having our allotment. Everyday is a school day for us as there is so much to learn and do, but we are always looking for some easy wins to balance the long game. It would be so easy to get carried away and plant so much the moment the sun starts to reappear. However, we are trying to stay calm, have a read of a few (thousand) books and are only planting out the truly hardy plants, as the weather continues to surprise us. It's just been Easter and one day we were sunbathing and the next day it was snowing!!
So this month we are focusing on peas. We planted them out a couple of weeks ago and so far, so good. Green shoots are beginning to show. But back to easy wins...we also planted some inside on a window ledge. We aren't going to allow these to develop into full pea plants. These are there for the full intention of creating pea shoots.
Here’s how:
● You can use dried peas from the supermarket or pea seeds and these need to be soaked for 24 hours.
● Then using a long container about 2 - 3 inches deep, fill with compost and then sprinkle peas on the top, covering lightly with compost.
● Water and then place onto a windowsill. Water every couple of days.
● And voila...in about 3 weeks (a little longer if it is mixed temperatures like it is now) there should be pea shoots ready to eat.
● To harvest pinch out leaving the bottom leaves and they may regrow.
Here’s why:
Pea Shoots make a great base to any salad dish and have a unique sweet flavour that compliments traditional lettuce style salads. Or added to a smoothie (recipe below) or chopped into an omelette to replace spinach.
In terms of nutritional content they are a source of vitamins A, B, C, E and K and also contain protein.
Because these only need a small windowsill to grow they are perfect for people who don't have an allotment or a garden but would still like to grow some of their own food.
Sweet as Pea Smoothie
● 1 x chopped banana
● Handful of berries (strawberries or raspberries work best and are great from frozen)
● Handful of pea shoots
● Handful of spinach
● 100g of plain yoghurt (dairy or non dairy alternatives)
● 200ml of milk (dairy or non dairy alternatives)
Blend and enjoy!