Your peas will be ready to harvest once the pods have grown to their full length and started to fill out. Unless you have x-ray vision determining the point that they have filled out enough is something you need to do by touch as well as sight. The pods will feel round and ridged as the peas inside swell. You are looking for a point when the peas inside are large enough to fill out the pod and not so big they become compacted, although if this happens it is not a problem. You will probably get a few pickings as the pods will mature over the course of 2 weeks. The flowering process will stop as the peas are allowed to get too maturity and so the plants will quickly become exhausted, regular picking of younger peas will extend the season slightly.

Mange tout peas will need to picked earlier in the growing process as you are after the flat pods which contain the immature pea buds. Cropping should start once the pods get to 4 or 5 cm long.

Harvesting your crop

When harvesting, in all cases, you are harvesting the pods, removing the peas is a separate process. The pods should be held in one hand and the plant stem in the other hand. Pull the pod firmly upwards and away from the plant, the supporting hand will make sure the plant is not damaged in the process.

Before you pick off the last of your peas it is worth considering whether to leave some to mature for next years plants. If you choose to do this leave the pea pods on the plant and they will slowly dry out and go brown. Pick them off and leave the pods to fully mature and dry, remove the pea seeds and store in a cool dry place till next sewing season.

When your plants have been stripped of their produce it is time to pull them up. The roots hold plenty of nitrogen so cut the stems just above the soil surface and dig the roots in. Detach the stems from the plant supports and add them to your compost heap. If the supports are suitable for another season then store them until needed.

What to do with your harvest

It is always best to remove the peas from the pods as soon after picking as possible. Hold the pod between your thumb and forefinger resting your thumb on the under, rounded side on the seam, just above the last pea. Press firmly and the two pod halves will separate with a pop. Open the pod and remove the peas into a bowl, check and remove any peas that look as if they have been nibbled. The pods can be used for wine and, you guesed it, compost.

How to store them

• Fresh - Peas are best eaten within a few hours of being picked, If you must store them then remove them from the pods and keep them in a airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Frozen - Peas freeze extremely well, although in our house we have never yet had enough spare for the freezer. to freeze, blanch the peas in boiling water for 2 mins, dunk them in cold water to stop the cooking process, divide into portions and bag them up, put them in the freezer as soon as they are cool enough.
• Dried - dried peas are great for making mushy peas or adding to soups and stews. If you plan to dry your peas leave the pods on the plants to dry out, if the weather is seriously wet lift the plants and hang them in a cool dry place until the pods are mature and brown. Remove the peas from the pods and store in an airtight container, they will need to be soaked in water before you use them.
• Preserves - Peas will make a great addition to pickles and chutneys.
• Canned and bottled - I'd leave this to the experts unless you have a seriously large harvest and a seriously small freezer.

Happy harvesting!