The Paramount Sugar Pea,

Food by Lois
A little while ago I wrote about the gardening book my mum had given my dad in 1948 for his twenty-ninth birthday; it was the first birthday since they had married in February. I wrote about various vegetables, including a mention of the Paramount Sugar pea. I wondered if such a pea still existed… sadly I don’t think it does; it must have been a very old variety. I did come across a mention of it in an Australian newspaper dated 1935:
PARAMOUNT SUGAR PEA.
This Is an entirely new type of Sugar Pea. It has long cylindrical and elegantly curved pods, with thick fleshy walls. Paramount can be used in quite young, medium, or advanced stages, with equally satisfactory results. From a picking of Paramount Sugar Pea, the waste negligible is nothing more than the aide strings and a chance dropped pea.
Townsville Daily Bulletin

…and again in 1943:

PARAMOUNT SUGAR PEAS

Some two years ago ‘Sap’ re-introduced to the readers of these notes the Para mount Sugar Pea. It was generally recognised as an outstanding novelty of re-cent years. It was unfortunate that some few days after the bulk of the sowings were made several Inches of rain fell which in some soils, caused most of the seed to rot In the ground. Later sowings however, germinated well, and reports from many directions Indicated that this sugar pea met with general approval. Last year. In consequence of the demand, no seeds were available, but this year a limited quantity can now be sent for from most of the Southern seedsmen. An application to most dealers if they have no stocks in hand, will procure the peas for you. Paramount sugar pea grows about four feet In height, and produces a heavy crop of giant fleshy pods, four or five inches in length. Two dishes may be obtained from the one crop, by using the shelled peas, and the thick, fleshy and stringless pods give a dish not previously known. The line Is quite distinct from any other garden variety, and much more valuable. Now If the time to sow.

It sounds quite delicious, a mange-tout or snap pea judging by its description!

 

8 Comments

  1. David Lewis
    Reply

    That’s a nice nickname for a girl Sugar Pea. My wife calls me Honeydew as in honey do this and honey do that! Gotta find a place to hide.

    Like

Leave a reply to Lois Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.