The Blue Peas
Butterfly Pea · A little experiment in blue
Some plants are grown for their fruit, others for their foliage, but these little seedlings were planted with something quite different in mind: the hope of an extraordinary blue flower. The butterfly pea, *Clitoria ternatea*, produces flowers of such an intense blue that they almost seem improbable. But every flower must begin somewhere, and ours began as a handful of seeds and a little curiosity. Now the first seedlings have appeared, with their delicate green leaves reaching towards the light. Whether we'll eventually be rewarded with those remarkable blue flowers remains to be seen. For now, we're simply enjoying watching them grow.
Their botanical world
The butterfly pea, *Clitoria ternatea*, belongs to the Fabaceae family, the same botanical family as peas and beans.
It is a perennial climbing plant in warm tropical climates, although in cooler regions it is often grown as an annual or kept somewhere protected.
Its flowers are most commonly a rich, vivid blue, sometimes with a pale centre, although white and other colour forms also exist.
The flowers have traditionally been used as a natural colouring in foods and drinks. Their blue pigments, known as anthocyanins, can change colour when acidity changes, sometimes turning purple or pink.
Butterfly peas enjoy warmth, good light and free-draining soil. As they grow, their slender stems will need something to climb.
For our little seedlings, growing through an English autumn, warmth and light will be particularly important.
Growing journal
A Little Accident
Today, after we'd settled our little blue peas into their individual pots, the whole tray slipped and landed upside down on the rug.
Suddenly there was compost, perlite and very small seedlings everywhere.
We scooped everything up as carefully as we could, settled each seedling back into its pot, and returned them to the warmth of the mini greenhouse.
Mistakes do happen in the garden room. Fortunately, plants are often a little tougher than we think.
And so a rather dramatic morning became another page in their growing journal.
Next time: We'll watch to see how our little blue peas settle after their unexpected tumble.
A Little More Room to Grow
Our little blue peas have been growing together in their first green container, but their slender stems and spreading leaves suggested it was time for a little more room. Today, 9 November, we carefully separated the seedlings and settled them into individual pots, giving each one its own space to grow. They're still very young, and we have some way to go before we see those extraordinary blue flowers. But for now, they're back in the warmth of the mini greenhouse, and we'll watch with interest to see how they settle into their new homes.
For now, our little blue peas have new homes and a little more room to grow. Whether they'll reward us with those extraordinary blue flowers remains to be seen, but that's part of the pleasure of growing something new.
Next time: We'll see how our little blue peas settle into their new pots, whether they begin to put on fresh growth, and perhaps discover which one is determined to reach the top first.