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The Alderman variety of pea plant is also known as Victorian Colossal Climber in the UK and as Tall Telephone in the USA (after Alexander Bell who patented the first telephone). It dates back to 1891 when it was first introduced by Laxton's in the UK and features frequently in Victorian gardening books.
Laxton's are most famous for their superb varieties of apples but they also bred raspberries, peas and many other vegetables and fruits. Laxton's ceased trading in 1957 when they amalgamated with Bunyards Nurseries.
Alderman is an open pollinated variety of pea (not an F1 variety) and because it has been cultivated for over 120 years some of its characteristics have changed slightly over the generations.
Alderman is a climbing pea and is normally classified as a late maincrop variety so under normal circumstances it will be ready for harvest 13 to 14 weeks after sowing.
If you have followed our recommendations for sowing peas, this gives you a harvest date for Alderman peas of the fourth week of June in average areas of the UK.
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Normally cultivated to an average height of 1.8m (6ft) it most definitely needs canes or similar to support it. We normally use rows of two canes set about 45cm apart at the base which are then tied at the top. Space each set of canes about 60cm (2ft) apart. Use pea netting to cover the rows of canes on both sides which will allow the pea plants to grow up the netting and support the pea plants.
Consider carefully where you plan to plant climbing peas. Because they can be expected to grow to 1.8m / 6ft tall they will cast a significant shadow. Planting on the shady side should take this into account, it will never be in full sun.
Each pod contains about ten peas per pod. The peas produced are some of the sweetest known to gardeners and they reach maturity over a longer period compared to your average pea plant. They retain this sweetness even when the peas are allowed to grow larger than normal.
Personal experience over many years of growing the Alderman variety has shown that they are very resistant to both Pea Moth attack and mildew.
The Alderman pea variety is open pollinated which means that ripened peas can be saved from one year to the next and they will grow true to type. This involves very little effort, saves buying more seeds the next year and is a satisfying method of growing peas. See our description of how to do this here.
The best time for a first sowing of Alderman pea seeds outdoors in their growing position is second week of March in average areas of the UK.
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A second sowing in the middle of June will produce flowers when Pea Moths are unlikely to get at the flowers and cause a problem. Click here for advice on how to sow peas.
Note that Alderman peas are climbers and they are best sown on each side of the supports erected to support them as described above.
If you sow your first seeds indoors, this can safely occur a week earlier. When the seeds have germinated and the plants are a 5cm / 2in above soil level they will need to be hardened off for a couple of weeks before being planted outside.
Ongoing care after sowing Alderman peas is almost non-existent. Peas generate and use nitrogen generated by their roots so feeding is not required.
Immediately after sowing the pea seeds, water them in well. In normal conditions, a good watering when the flowers appear is advised and once again a couple of weeks after, when the peas are beginning to grow in their pods.
Alderman peas will continue to grow after they have reached their ideal height so it is advisable to pinch out the top growing shoots when the plants are 1.8m / 6ft high. If you do not do this the plants will become very top heavy and providing adequate support will be a problem.
Being a late maincrop variety they should be ready for harvest from the first sowing during the fourth week of June in average areas of the UK.
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As with all garden peas they start to loose their sweetness (the sugars very quickly start to turn to starch) in as little as 30 minutes after picking. For maximum sweetness pick as near to cooking or freezing them as possible.
Click the link below for our reviews of more pea varieties.
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