Growth and Optimum Harvesting Time of Pod-edible Peas (Pisum sativum L.)

The present study was performed to obtain the basic information about growth and quality related characteristics and optimum harvesting time for podedible pea which is a new crop in Korea but believed to have a great deal of potentials for both domestic and overseas markets. They can be consumed either as a fresh succulent vegetable or as tender green pods. The daily green pod yield of pod-edible peas started to increase from ten days after flowering and the maximum yield was recorded on 26 days after flowering. Ninety percent of pod yields could be harvested from 16 to 36 days after flowering. Mean green pod yield for the tested varieties was approximately 8.0 t/ha. Total vitamin C content of pod-edible peas showed continuously decreasing trends from five days after flowering. The highest sucrose content was obtained at ten days after flowering. The highest panel score based on sweetness, chewiness, and hardness for the processed green pods was shown at 10-15 days after flowering in all varieties tested, indicating that the optimum harvesting time for pod-edible peas was considered to be 10-15 days after flowering.