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Post by hmoosek on Jul 22, 2022 18:37:36 GMT -6
This is the pea that was grown in the small town where I pumped gas as a kid. It’s a one horse town with one ol’ light blinking on and off as the song goes. I have tried asking all around there to see if anyone still grows this pea, but so far I cannot find anyone that still grows it or remember the fellow that did. Here’s the information I found on the seed savers website about this pea. Polecat Peas Cowpea Donated to SSE by Dorothy Smith (TX SM D) who has grown this variety since about 1965 when she received it from her grandfather, Barney Frankum, of Mt. Calm, TX Likely grown by Frankum since about the mid 1920's when the seed was given to him by a now unknown person.  |
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 22, 2022 18:44:24 GMT -6
After much research, some say this cowpea predates the Civil War. I was not able to find an exact date, just early 1800’s. It has apparently gone by several names. Why the pea was given the name polecat is beyond me. It’s not black and white. It’s maroon and cream colored much like Calico Crowder.
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 22, 2022 18:47:56 GMT -6
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jul 23, 2022 10:07:54 GMT -6
As long as the horse and buggy cross the finish line, it doesn’t matter if the Volkswagen or the Porsche get there first. It would just be great to renew the seed. Does “polecat” mean “skunk” to you, HMooseK? To me it doesn’t, and so I understand the maroon and cream coloration. I wonder if the name goes back so far that people were closer to their European/British Isle roots and had something more like a ferret or weasel in mind. Here’s a Wikipedia link that has some pictures of different animals called polecats. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polecat |
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 23, 2022 11:13:17 GMT -6
Wow! The only animal I’ve ever referred to as a polecat was a skunk. Well, barring a couple of dubious humans.
I’m glad you brought that information to my attention. It never occurred to me that other animals had been referred to as polecats. The name for the red & white pea makes much more sense now.
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 23, 2022 14:46:35 GMT -6
Well, it looks like 4 plants will be what I have to work with on this variety. I had another, but it barely cracked the surface and died. Not enough juice in the old tank I reckon. The rest of my peas while still important, had excellent germination, so I’m not quite as worried about them. I’m trying to keep polecat from extinction. These seeds barely had enough ooomph left in them. I guess in hindsight, I should have used the whole package, but I’m always scared to do that.
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 23, 2022 19:14:37 GMT -6
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Post by woodeye on Jul 23, 2022 19:33:21 GMT -6
Looking good! Hope they make you lots of seeds. I know you'll take good care of them... 
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jul 24, 2022 14:33:02 GMT -6
Wow! The only animal I’ve ever referred to as a polecat was a skunk. Well, barring a couple of dubious humans. I’m glad you brought that information to my attention. It never occurred to me that other animals had been referred to as polecats. The name for the red & white pea makes much more sense now. Your “dubious humans” remark gave me a chuckle, and it made me remember watching the movie “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” when I was little. I don’t know if someone gets called a “polecat” as an insult, or if it’s just the song that made me think of it. I’m glad you got those four seeds germinated of this variety. I wish you very well in your seed-saving attempts with it. |
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 25, 2022 7:08:28 GMT -6
Here we go! Official kickoff. I hope I didn’t crowd them too much.  |
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Post by woodeye on Jul 25, 2022 7:19:09 GMT -6
Coach, your team looks ready for the kickoff! 
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 31, 2022 14:48:16 GMT -6
It’s been almost a week now. They appear to have overcome their initial weakness.  |
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Post by woodeye on Jul 31, 2022 14:57:06 GMT -6
They look great, moose!
It appears that you will definitely have a crop this year...
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 31, 2022 15:27:53 GMT -6
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Post by hmoosek on Aug 4, 2022 20:00:03 GMT -6
I’ve decided to keep the Polecat Peas and the Woods Mountain Crazy beans on the front porch, so I can keep a better eye on them. I’ve been bringing the beans in at night due to some “no see um “ eating their fill. Once I’m happy with their looks, I’ll transplant to a big container.
The Polecat peas look happy. I’m expecting them to sprawl, so we’ll see if keeping them on the porch was a bone headed idea.
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