Seed Saving from Peas
Peas are almost entirely self pollinating, only very occasionally crossing with other plants.
To grow for seed, set aside a section of a row that is entirely for seed production, and make sure you sow at a time that will avoid pea moth. Pea moth is a small, grey-brown moth whose caterpillars feed in the pods of garden peas. Peas sown early or late and which flower outside of the egg laying period of the moth (June and July) should remain un-infested.
If growing different varieties of peas, in order to avoid physical mixing up of the seeds, separate different varieties of pea with another crop. Check the row from time to time as the peas grow and pull up any plants that are weak or not true to type.
Let the peas mature until the pods are brown and the seeds start to rattle. If the weather is very bad, pull up the whole plants and bring inside (for example hung upside down from the shed roof).
Once the pods are dry, shell the peas out.
Dry the shelled peas further in a warm (but not hot) place, label with the variety and date, and store.
