Tall Telephone

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Sweet, garden-bright pods fill with plump peas that practically glow—tender-sweet flavor with a clean, snap-tender bite when shelled.

Tall Telephone’s vigorous, upright growth keeps pods up and easy to spot, delivering a steady harvest of uniformly sized peas prized for their rich, classic shelling quality. Grow for fresh shelling at the peak of cool-season sweetness, or for turning into vibrant pea purées and spoonable sides that showcase their naturally sweet character.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Tall Telephone

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 4th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Tall Telephone shelling peas are built for the sweet, snap-tender moment—cook them fast, then let butter gloss the surface without turning them creamy-mushy. Their classic sweetness plays beautifully with lemon and mint, and purées up into a spoonable, softly starchy texture.

Best Uses

quick-sautéed peas with butter and a splash of starchy pasta water
blitzed pea purée for a spoonable side or silky base
fresh shelling into warm grain salads where they hold their bite
rapid cook (steamed/boiled) and finished with lemon zest and olive oil

Flavor Profile

tender-sweet snap when shelled clean, garden-bright pea flavor lightly starchy, creamy mouthfeel when cooked finishing sweetness that reads herbal, not green-bitter

Kitchen Pairings

unsalted butter lemon garlic mint parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage powdery mildew on Pisum sativum (Tall Telephone) if it appears?

Powdery mildew shows up as a white, floury coating on pea leaves—especially in humid weather and dense foliage. Remove badly infected leaves, improve airflow by thinning if plants are overcrowded, and avoid wetting foliage when watering. If it keeps spreading, spray a potassium bicarbonate or neem-based product labeled for edible legumes and repeat as directed on the label.

How often should I water Tall Telephone peas (Pisum sativum) during the main growing phase?

Water deeply about once or twice per week, aiming for evenly moist soil during flowering and pod fill. Let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings, then soak thoroughly so moisture reaches the root zone. In sandy soil you may need more frequent watering; in heavy soil reduce frequency to prevent root stress.

When are Tall Telephone peas (Pisum sativum) ready to harvest?

Start harvesting when pods are fully filled but still tender—typically about 70 days from sowing for Tall Telephone. Pick peas when pods feel firm and the peas inside are well-developed yet not bulging to the point of toughness. Harvesting every 1–2 days keeps plants producing and prevents the pods from over-maturing.