Typically when pink eye shells are full purple, it is time to use them for shellies. The shells at that point should be thin and leathery. If the pod is still fleshy they will be more difficult to shell.

Thanks Farmer. Mine are just getting to the full pruple stage so I guess I should let them go a bit longer. I just picked another one a few minutes ago and the pod is still pretty tough.

Chuck

Farmerdilla is right, as usual. Maturity of Pink Eye Purple Hulls shows clearly in the pod color. They are ready when the pod is totally deep, dark purple.

Enjoy.

Jim

I picked and shelled the first batch this past weekend. I only got a bit less than a quart of shelled peas, but there's another round ready to pick. How long do these usually produce? The plants look fine and healthy, not like my bush green beans which often start looking puny after the first picking.

We had green beans we needed to cook, so I froze most of the first picking, only saving out a half cup to throw in with the green beans. They were right tasty, though it is hard to separate out their taste from the beans. I figure to cook the next picking right away. I don't have any kind of sheller, but I got pretty good at zipping them open by the time I'd shelled the first batch. Seems like a good thumbnail helps!

Chuck

pink eye purple hull peas are so much tastier if picked with a variety of color. you can even pick the smallest ones and use as snaps. if you wait until all hulls are purple they will be drier tasting. I have planted, picked, cooked, and eaten them for 30 years. the sell of them in the garden makes my mouth water.

I agree with hulonfam
We pick all that are full no matter the color as we do not like to pick the same rows daily
To us the younger ones are more tasty

Thanks, hulonfam and hementia. I will try them that way. I'm always looking for the tried and true.

Jim