Blue Pod Capucijner Pea is shelling variety grown in Holland perhaps as early as the 1580s. William Woys Weaver argues that while the Capuchin monks may have had developed and grown a similar pea in their cloister gardens in the late Middle Ages, it is likely this variety was perfected much later by Dutch seedsmen. Peas (Pisum sativum) have been cultivated by humans for at least 7000 years. Some of the earliest remains were found in Egypt (4800-4400 BC). They are native to the entire Mediterranean Basin, and parts of the Middle East over to India. Originally, peas were mainly used as a dry-seeded pulse that helped people survive the winters. Much later in modern Europe and China they were selected for their fresh shelled peas, then their entire fresh pods (mange-tout), and later still their de-skinned split peas for soup. (Thanks hand model Julia) #seedkeeping #williamwoysweaver #roughwoodseedcollection #bluepodcapucijner #heirloompeas #pisumsativum
