Peas 2019

[triffid]

Grew out enough of the following to share with anyone who is interested:

Ave Juan - 5-6ft big fat Andalusian heirloom, white flowered sheller, green wrinkled seed.
Freer's Mummy Pea - tall Victorian variety, white flowered, creamy-beige wrinkled seed. Not umbellatum type despite the name.
Kent Blue - 2-3ft grey pea, mangetout w/ some antho striping, small round very speckled seed.
Bijou - 5ft grey pea, giant mangetout, string-less, large seed average speckling.

[whwoz]

Looking at having a go at pea breeding for the first time this year and was wondering if the flower shown is to far advanced for use as either a pod or pollen parent. Thanks for any assistance offered

[Joseph Lofthouse]

Looking at having a go at pea breeding for the first time this year and was wondering if the flower shown is to far advanced for use as either a pod or pollen parent. Thanks for any assistance offered

That seems too far along.

An easy way to tell is to open up the keel, and if it is filled with pollen, then it's too advanced.

[whwoz]

Ok, thanks

[Joseph Lofthouse]

Uh. I read your question more carefully.

That looks too far along for a mother. Seems great as a pollen donor.

[whwoz]

Ok thank you for the extra information,  much appreciated,  gives me a good reference point

[Joseph Lofthouse]

I was startled the first time I hand pollinated peas, and how immature the pods needed to be to avoid selfing.

[galina]

When you see the colour developing on a purple or pink flower it is usually too late to use as the pod mother.  For pollen I would possibly use it a little more advanced to be sure that pollen has been shed.  But just like Joseph said, when you open the flower you will see very easily whether pollen has been shed or not. 

It is easiest to work with early season flowers because they are larger. 

[whwoz]

Thank you Galina for the information,  much appreciated. Ties in with what I remember reading,  just not sure where I read it to go back to for re-reading purposes,  and have not had the time yet to do a good hunt.  Do not remember seeing photos showing buds before people have opened them up either

[galina]

Thank you Galina for the information,  much appreciated. Ties in with what I remember reading,  just not sure where I read it to go back to for re-reading purposes,  and have not had the time yet to do a good hunt.  Do not remember seeing photos showing buds before people have opened them up either

I learned it from Carol Deppe's book on breeding your own varieties.  But there is a lot of good information that Rebsie Fairholm has posted in her blogs. 

http://daughterofthesoil.blogspot.com/2007/05/how-to-breed-your-own-garden-peas.html
http://daughterofthesoil.blogspot.com/

Hope it is not considered bad manners to refer to a post in another forum. 
http://alanbishop.proboards.com/thread/1804/tutorial-cross-peas

and an excellent video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq7-JGRmFBc&t=3s

[whwoz]

Thanks for the links Galina,  some I have read, some not. Carols book is one that I must track down sometime soon.

[gmuller]

Whwoz,
my favourite tool for pea pollination is a set of fine curved forceps, fine enough to slice through the keel - Aust entomology supplies online does some good cheap knockoffs of the exe swiss ones. model em1-827.


as the season progresses you need to get them earlier and earlier. in December I 've opened buds when they were nowhere near emerged from the bracts to catch them before pollen shed. at this stage, for my eyes at least, I need those swing down magnifying visors.
gm

[whwoz]

Thanks for that info GM.  Not sure if I will get to crossing this year, but certainly will bulk up seed stocks a bit for next year.  Need to reduce the fiber in Heather a bit as well, more than happy with JT.

[B. Copping]

Some of Andrew’s crosses of DGS.
F2+ (?)