One year, I planted sweet 'Edible Pod Peas' and snow peas in the garden, with the gardening tools stationed enroute to the garden.
We told the kids that they could eat them while they were working up in the garden, and we encouraged,
telling them that the more that was harvested and eaten, the more they would flower and produce more pods.
The only error made was having the peas close to the house rather than on the other side of the garden away from the house.
Lesson learned !
We are blessed that our offspring actually love real food. I have learned, like your lesson, that sweet peppers and tomatoes need to be "further out" because all the grandkids love both.
My husband is from Maine and talks fondly of his folks growing sweet peas as you mention. I've planted them for him but never gotten a good crop as it gets hot so early here in Texas. I planted in January most years. A couple of times we got late freezes that took them out but more years they will just start producing and we get a week of scorching weather that kills 'em. Our hot weather peas just aren't the same for eating off the vine.
I believe you folks up north have allowed your weather to escape! It’s 16 degrees here in central Texas this morning. Please, I’m begging you, keep your weather penned in for the rest of this winter. Please!