Name: Mangetout Pea 'Ambrosia' - Pisum sativum
Brand: Benjis Seeds
Price: 3.0 EUR
Availability: OutOfStock

Mangetout Pea ‘Ambrosia’ – historic variety with sweet, tender pods and sturdy growth.

This open-pollinated mangetout pea produces light to medium-green, flat pods with a juicy, tender texture and a pleasantly sweet pea flavour. This mid-early, high-yielding variety remains manageable at around 60–70 cm tall and is noted for its sturdy growth. Young pods can be eaten whole while the peas inside are still small; when more developed, the plants also produce sweet peas that can be shelled. This makes it suitable both for eating fresh straight from the garden and for use in the kitchen. It is particularly well suited to the mild growing periods in Mediterranean climates and to spring cultivation in Central European climates.

Origin & History

‘Ambrosia’ originates from central Germany and is one of the old mangetout pea varieties of German horticulture. It was known under its present name by 1954 at the latest, followed by official German variety registration in 1956. Its short growth and good standing ability provided a manageable alternative to strongly climbing mangetout peas. These characteristics made it particularly suitable for smaller vegetable beds and home gardens.

A distinctive feature of the variety is the combination of tender edible pods with sweet peas that can also be shelled and used once they are more developed. Its mature seeds are wrinkled, as is typical of wrinkled-seeded peas. ‘Ambrosia’ therefore combines two forms of harvest in a single variety. It has persisted for decades as an open-pollinated garden variety and remains part of organic seed production today.

Appearance & Characteristics

The plants have a herbaceous, relatively compact growth habit and develop branching shoots with paired green leaflets and fine tendrils. They usually reach around 60–70 cm in height during the harvesting period. The white pea flowers develop into flat, slightly curved pods, with the green peas becoming clearly visible inside as they mature. A low support keeps the shoots upright and makes picking easier. Young plants tolerate light frost, while flowers and young pods should be protected from frost.

Pod details:

Size: Medium-long, around 8–10 cm
Shape: Flat, elongated and slightly curved
Colour: Light to medium green
Texture: Tender, juicy and crisp when young, without a tough inner parchment layer
Flavour: Sweet, mild and with a fresh pea flavour

Usage & Cultivation Highlights

The young, still-flat pods can be eaten raw as a garden snack or in salads. Lightly steamed or quickly cooked in a pan, they work well in vegetable dishes, with rice and pasta, and in mild sauces. Their delicate flavour is particularly well preserved with brief cooking. More developed peas that are still green can be shelled and cooked as garden peas. Young shoot tips are also edible and can be added to salads. For longer-term storage, both the tender pods and shelled green peas can be blanched and frozen.

The relatively short growing period makes this variety useful for beds intended for a follow-on crop after harvest. As a legume, it can fix atmospheric nitrogen through root-nodule bacteria and requires little additional fertiliser in well-supplied garden soil. Its compact growth also makes it suitable for raised beds or sufficiently deep containers. The option of harvesting whole pods first and shelled peas later provides additional flexibility in how the crop is used.

Compared with other mangetout pea varieties, ‘Ambrosia’ is one of the shorter-growing, sturdier types. Its sweet, tender pods, modest space requirements and the additional use of its green peas make it a versatile choice for home gardens, raised beds and home food production.

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Origin & Cultivation at a Glance

First mention:

1954

Origin:

Germany

Breeder:

Unknown

Propagation site:

Hesse - Germany

Suitable for:

Open field, Raised bed, Balcony / pot, Urban gardening

Overwintering:

Possible outdoors in mild winters, protect from severe frost.

Special features:

Fast-growing, High-yielding, Resilient, Low-maintenance

Cultivation guide for

Mangetout Pea 'Ambrosia'

Growing difficulty:

Easy

Care requirements:

Low – easy to care for, ideal for beginners.

This variety grows best in loose, humus-rich and well-drained garden soil. Before sowing, loosen the soil, remove weeds and prepare the surface to a fine tilth. No additional nitrogen fertiliser is required in soil that is already well supplied with nutrients. Avoid fresh manure and waterlogging.

Sow the seeds 3–4 cm deep and 5–6 cm apart within the row, leaving 30–40 cm between rows. Close the seed drills, firm the soil gently and water carefully. Keep evenly moist until the seedlings emerge. At 10–20 °C, germination usually takes 10–20 days. Pricking out is not required when direct sowing.

When the plants are around 10–15 cm tall, earth them up lightly. A low support made from twiggy branches or mesh provides additional support and makes harvesting easier. Hoe carefully and only shallowly between the rows. Water regularly during dry periods while the plants are flowering and forming pods. Harvest the pods regularly while they are still flat and tender. At the end of the growing period, cut healthy plants off at ground level and leave the roots in the soil.

Mediterranes Klima

In Mediterranean climates, we recommend direct sowing from February to March in a sunny, airy and sheltered position. In areas with mild winters, sowing from October to November is also recommended. Sowing under cover is not recommended for this cultivation method. Sow autumn crops only in well-drained soil and protect them from severe frost. Mild temperatures favour flowering and pod set, while prolonged summer heat and drought can reduce yields. Depending on the sowing time, harvesting takes place from spring to early summer. Overwintered crops take longer to reach their first harvest than spring-sown crops.

Mitteleuropäisches Klima

In Central European climates, we recommend direct sowing from March to May in a sunny to lightly shaded, airy and sheltered position, once the soil has dried sufficiently and warmed up. Sowing under cover is not recommended for this cultivation method. Early sowings benefit from the cool spring weather and develop their pods before the onset of intense summer heat. Protect flowering plants with fleece when late frost is forecast. Depending on the sowing time, harvesting begins between May and August, usually 2–3 months after sowing.

Cultivation tips:

• Regular harvesting encourages new fruit set and increases overall yield.
• Keep evenly moist during flowering and pod development.
• Harvest young pods before the peas inside become clearly visible.
• When the plants are around 10–15 cm tall, earth them up lightly.
• At the end of the growing period, cut healthy plants off at ground level and leave the roots in the soil.

Storage instructions:

Store seeds in a cool, dry, dark, and airtight environment to maximize shelf life and germination.

Detailed information on seed storage

Plant Profile

Mangetout Pea 'Ambrosia'

Plant details

Botanical name:

Pisum sativum L. 'Ambrosia'

Botanical family:

Fabaceae – pea family

Plant type:

Legume vegetable

Growth habit:

Herbaceous, Compact, Climbing

Plant width:

30–40 cm

Plant height:

60–70 cm

Root type:

Moderately to deep rooted, Taprooted

Hardy to:

−4 °C – possible for short periods in young plants.

Cultivation period:

3-4 months

Life cycle:

Annual

Sowing & Planting

Germination type:

Light-independent germinator

Sowing depth:

3-4 cm

Germination temperature:

10-20 °C

Germination time:

10-20 days

Pot culture:

Requires a minimum container size of 10-15 liters.

Row spacing for baby leaf:

For baby leaf production, we recommend using sprouting and microgreens seeds.

Plant spacing:

5–6 cm

Row spacing:

30–40 cm

Pricking out / thinning out:

No thinning required – direct sowing recommended.

Planting time:

Transplanting not required - direct sowing is recommended.

Soil

Soil type:

Well-drained, humus-rich loam soil

Soil pH:

6.0-7.5 – slightly acidic to alkaline

Nutrient requirements:

Light feeder

Soil moisture:

Evenly moist, Sensitive to waterlogging

Soil preparation:

Loosen soil before sowing, Prepare soil weed-free and with a fine crumb structure.

Companion planting, Crop rotation & Harvest

Companion plants:

Carrot, Brassicas, Lettuce, Radish, Radish varieties, Beetroot, Dill, Calendula

Incompatible plants:

Onion crops, Potato

Crop rotation guidelines:

• Do not plant after other legumes – at least 4 years of spacing recommended.

Sowing to harvest:

2-3 months

Harvested parts:

Young pods, Unripe seeds, Young shoot tips

Suitable for consumption:

Yes - edible raw.

Intended use:

Raw consumption, Salad, Steaming, Cooking, Roasting, Freezing

Care & Cultivation practices

Water requirements:

Moderate

Plant care techniques:

Water regularly - even during dry periods, Loosen and hoe, Hill up, Maintain weed-free

Plant protection:

Slug protection recommended, Well-ventilated location and good drainage recommended., Check early for aphids., Protect flowering plants when frost is forecast

Cultivation notes:

Susceptible to slugs and snails in early development. Sensitive to waterlogging – use well-drained soil. Can be infested by aphids - occasional monitoring recommended. Loss of quality in heat – prefer cool locations.

Propagation method:

Generative propagation by seed

Propagation:

• This variety is predominantly self-fertile and belongs to the species Pisum sativum.
• For seed production, a minimum isolation distance of 15 m from other varieties of the same species is recommended, as cross-pollination is rare but possible.
• For seed saving, collect seeds from 20–50 healthy, true-to-type plants.
• The seeds are ready for harvest once the pods have fully dried and become straw‑brittle.
• Allow harvested pods to finish drying in a well-ventilated place, remove the seeds, clean them and dry them thoroughly.