Kent blue

Saturday, 12 September 2009 13:32

Description: Seeds: small, round, heavily speckled purple-blue. Plant: weak growth, small leaves. Flowers: small, veined, maroon/pink quickly turning sky blue/midnight blue, paired, veined. It goes through the same flower colour changes as other purpley-type peas, i.e. starting off with cream buds then two-tone pink and maroon flowers which gradually turn blue. But the colour on this one is darker and more intense, and the flowers turn blue while they're still in their prime, unlike other varieties which only go blue when they're old and sagging. The wing petal is a really deep velvety midnight blue ... lovely. The standard petal is pale blue with a pinky-red base and has dark veining which is also very attractive. They are small flowers compared to other varieties but they're borne in pairs. Pods: scimitar-shaped, flat, very knobbly, buckle and twist, peas visible inside, fibreless, green, nice taste. The exact origins of this pea are unknown, but it has apparently been saved as a family heirloom since the 1940s in Sevenoaks, Kent. Go to table of pea varieties