Tall Telephone is an open-pollinated shelling pea that reaches 6 feet tall and delivers 68 days from sowing to a generous harvest of plump, tender pods. Each vine sprawls with long, easy-to-shell pods stuffed with 6 to 8 sweet peas that stay tender longer than most shelling varieties, never turning starchy too quickly. Hardy in zones 3 through 11 and frost-tolerant, this heirloom thrives in spring gardens where cool soil and climbing space allow it to shine.
Full Sun
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3-11
36in H x 12in W
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High
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Tall Telephone vines produce an abundance of long pods filled with 6 to 8 exceptionally plump peas that retain their sweetness and tender texture longer than other shelling peas. The vines demand trellising but reward that effort with prolific harvests across the season. Sown as soon as soil becomes workable in spring, this open-pollinated cultivar germinates quickly in cool weather and maintains the same vigor and productivity that made it beloved among gardeners for generations.
Tall Telephone shines as a fresh shelling pea, harvested at peak ripeness and eaten raw or lightly cooked. The tender peas are equally suited to spring risottos, pasta dishes, and traditional English preparations. Because the pods stay tender longer than starchy varieties, they reward both immediate consumption and gentle cooking methods that preserve their natural sweetness.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow directly into the garden as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Tall Telephone germinates readily in cool soil and thrives when sown early; delay planting until late spring and heat will reduce vigor and shorten the productive window.
Pick pods when they feel full and plump to the touch, typically 68 days after sowing. The pods should be a bright, fresh green with visible pea shapes showing through the skin. Harvest regularly to encourage continued flowering and pod production throughout the season; leaving mature pods on the vine signals the plant to stop producing new flowers.
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“Also known as Alderman, Tall Telephone emerged as an open-pollinated cultivar that became a staple of home and market gardens across North America. The variety's tall, vigorous vines and abundant pod production secured its reputation, and it has been preserved and replanted by seed savers and gardeners who value its reliable performance and exceptional quality. Its journey from commercial fields to heirloom seed catalogs reflects the enduring appeal of a pea that simply works year after year.”