Growing Thomas Laxton Pea Vegetable Garden Seeds
How to Grow Thomas Laxton Pea from Seed
Pea is ideally suited for direct full sun outdoor sowing as soon as the soil can be worked after the final spring frost. Pea may also be planted at the end of summer for a quick fall harvest. Sow 1" deep and 1-2" apart in Organically rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5. Peas can be soaked 4-6 hours in warm water prior to sowing to help germination. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days, thinning out strongest starts to 6-9" apart as true leaves establish. Whether growing English shelling, Chinese snow, or sugar snap, pea cultivation is fairly universal.
TIP: Instead of building a trellis this year for your peas which costs money and uses valuable resources, try planting oats instead as a trellis. This will not only produce oats and build biomass in your garden, but it will give your peas something to climb on. Oat grows 6' tall and will make an excellent living trellis.
How to Harvest Thomas Laxton Peas
Most varieties of pea are ready for harvest 60-70 days from sowing. Know the variety you are planting because each will have different signs of ripeness. English shelling peas are the most traditional, having a fibrous, inedible shell and are the fastest to maturity. Sugar snap is the next to mature and has a fibrous, but deliciously edible pod. Snow pea takes the longest to mature and has small seeds and flat, edible pods most notably used in Asian cuisine. Pea pods are sweetest when 2-3" long and should be carefully cut from vine rather than twisted or pulled.
About Thomas Laxton Pea Seeds
- This pea carries Thomas Laxton's name, but was breed by his sons William and Edward Laxton Brother's and named in honor of Thomas' contribution to horticulture and plant breeding.
- Thomas Laxton died in 1893 and the pea first appeared in 1898.
- Any pea that was introduced over 100 years ago and is still widely grown should tell you volumes.
- Reliable, consistent, and sweet are just some of the words used to describe this pea.
- Tasty bright green peas, excellent quality, and high in sugar content.
- Pods grow to about 3-4 1/2 inches, containing six to eight peas each.
1822-1920 Bricks High Grade Seeds says about Thomas Laxton Pea...
"This reliable pea is similar in type to Gradus, but has darker foliage and square-ended pods. Although a wrinkled sort of excellent quality, it may be planted about as early as smooth varieties."
1918 The Great Northern Seed Co. says about Thomas Laxton Pea...
"A comparatively new variety of large-podded pea. The quality is delicious and cannot be surpassed; matures nearly as early as any of the extra early smooth peas, and being a wrinkled sort is much sweeter."
1929 Steele Briggs Seed house says about Thomas Laxton Pea...
"Vine 3 to 3 1/2 feet high, dark in color, hardy and very productive. Pods large, long, with square ends. The green Peas are very large, fine colored and unsurpassed in quality."
1934 Mill's Annual Seed Book says about Thomas Laxton Pea...
"Fine wrinkled early Pea 4 inches long with 6 to 8 large peas and only a few days later than the extra early smooth Peas. The vines grow 2-1/2 feet high. Ready for use in 55 to 60 days."
