Growing combining peas

White flowered varieties

All varieties of white flowered peas are suitable for premium markets but can also be used for animal feed. These are further classified on the current PGRO Descriptive List into yellows (whites), greens (large & small blues) and marrowfats.

Type

Description

Quality criteria

Yellow (White) peas

Seed coat yellow/white, smooth and round. Primarily of use in animal feeds but small quantities of white peas are used for canning as ‘pease pudding’ and as split peas in ingredients for soups and prepared meals. Suitable for a wide range of soil types.

Increasingly interest is being shown in yellow peas for their potential for fractionation for starch, protein and fibre.

Commercially referred to as yellow peas.

Samples for the human consumption markets should have smooth skin and a bright, even colour

Green peas

(Large & Small blue)

Seed coat blue/green, smooth and round. In addition to the animal compounding market, larger seeded varieties can be sold for micronising and for human consumption for export or UK packet sales. The micronising process produces a high protein feed for use in certain dried animal rations and pet foods. Breeding programmes are now producing a number of high yielding varieties with different agronomic characteristics suited to a range of soil types. Sample colour is one of the more important quality criteria for micronising, with the higher premiums being offered for samples of green, large, even-sized seed.

Small seeded varieties are used on a limited scale for canning as small processed peas, or for micronising or for the pigeon trade.

Sample colour is one of the more important quality criteria for micronising, with the higher premiums being offered for samples of green, large, even-sized seed. Canning samples must be free from waste and stain, and pass cooking tests. A good even, green colour is necessary for acceptance for the pigeon feed market.

Marrowfat pea

Seed coat blue/green, large, dimpled seeds. Varieties in this group are the most important for human consumption, being used for both dry packet sale and canning as large processed peas. They are suited to a wide range of soil types and some are relatively late maturing. The best samples will go for export to the Far East. A good colour, free from blemishes, is also required for packet sales. Samples for canning must be free from waste and stain, and pass soaking and cooking tests.

The best samples will go for export to the Far East. A good colour, free from blemishes, is also required for packet sales. Samples for canning must be free from waste and stain, and pass soaking and cooking tests.

Coloured flowered (Maple) varieties

A very small area of this type of pea is grown, principally for pigeon feed. Samples for this market are brown-seeded, small, round or dimpled.

Maple peas

Coloured flowered. Seed coat is brown, often with flecked orange/yellow markings. Principally used in the pigeon trade.

A small specialist export market exists for human consumption.

Samples for the pigeon trade should be blemish free, brown-seeded, usually small and sometimes round and smooth.

Quality is generally judged by sample appearance.