Exceptional flavour is well worth the 2-2.5m (6-8') tall trellis these need. Alderman shelling pea seeds produce huge pods with eight or nine peas each over a long harvest window. The pods are easy to pick and shell. Check a few to see if they are filled before picking the whole crop. Alderman is an old heirloom variety, selected from the Duke of Albany pea strain. This noble pea has been grown in country gardens since 1891, and is known in many seed catalogues as Tall Telephone, Improved Telephone, or Rondo o Alderman. This variety is not enation resistant, so it's a great choice for earlier planting in February and March on the coast. Away from the coast, enation is not as serious a problem. Alderman is an excellent choice for canning and quick freezing, or just picking out of the pod right in the garden.

Matures in 70-78 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

• Exceptional flavour
• Huge pods and large peas
• Not enation-resistant
• Open-pollinated seeds
• Matures in 70-78 days