Swedish Pole Pea

This marvellous pea (also known as Biskopen or Bishop's Pea) is now a must-grow every year at Franken Farm due to its taste, versatility and resilience. Grows quickly, reaching up to 7 feet tall with pink and purple flowers. Fresh peas are flat (similar to a snow pea) and have the best taste of any pea I've grown- sweet, crisp, light yet still intensely flavourful. Allow pods to dry on the plant for dried peas for winter- the peas dry down to a rusty red colour. 

I learned a lot about peas while researching this plant, including the term "Carlin Pea." Carlin Peas are a group of peas, including Swedish Pole Peas, that have the distinctive traits of growing very tall and producing dun coloured dried peas. Carlin Peas have similar qualities to chickpeas when cooked, and can be used to make dishes like hummus. 

According to the website of Swedish seedkeeper Henrik Norbeck, the Swedish Pole Pea "comes from Biskopsnäset in Ludvika in southern Dalarna[, Sweden] where it was grown by a Mr. Smedberg, who was called "The Bishop.""

Grown organically with love and tenderness in the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada, in the summer of 2024. Germination tested December 2024. Minimum 25 peas.

Sources: 

https://www.norbeck.nu/plants/variety.asp?lang=en&code1=pea&code2=dun&variety=Biskopens

https://catherine244.substack.com/p/carlin-peas