On Tue, 25 Mar 2003 11:06:36 -0000, "jim" wrote:

I need advice on growing peas, i want to grow the variety that is used in
Chinese cooking called Dou Miu. I believe they are of the snow peas variety
although i have come across infomation on the web saying that pea shoots
from any or most varieties can be used for this dish and again i've also
found stuff on the web saying that not all pea shoots & pods are edible? can
someone tell me what i should be growing for dou mui?

Hmm. Interesting web search. It appears as if the most common source
for dau miu is an Oriental grocery store. :-) Having never snipped
off the tips of young pea vines, I don't know if these would be raised
like seed (alfalfa, mung bean) 'sprouts' -- one seed to one sprout --
or 'cut-and-come-again' like pinching the tops of basil plants.

I'm guessing that any ol' tender, young pea shoots could be used. I've
never heard of any kind of pea foliage being inedible. "Edible" pod
peas are pretty much varieties intended to be harvested with a young,
tender pod and immature peas -- 'snow' peas and many varieties of
'sugar snap' types. The pods of regular peas are probably *safe* to
eat, just not very appetizing. The only caveat I would have is that if
the seed is included (as it is in 'sprouts'), it shouldn't be the sort
treated with a fungicide, as many vegetable seeds are.