View the Asparagus Pea page

09 Dec 22 Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Asparagus Pea is aka Winged Pea, NOT winged bean which is a totally different plant and tastes totally different.

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23 Dec 22 A. Gardener (Australia - temperate climate)

Thanks for pointing this out, the 'pea' vs 'bean' nomenclature and profusion of common names is indeed confusing. Given the references to red vs blue flowers and variable cold-hardiness in this thread it is pretty clear people are talking about both Lotus tetragonobolus (asparagus or winged pea, the topic of this page) and Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (winged bean aka Goa bean, cigarillas, four-angled bean, four-cornered bean, manila bean, princess bean, dragon bean). A bit of googling and the comments here show they are indeed quite different: Lotus tetragonobolus aka Tetragonolobus purpureus is the one sold at Bunnings (https://www.bunnings.com.au/johnsons-winged-pea-seed_p2961839), the pods of which are supposed to taste like asparagus. It has red flowers, a spreading low habit, and only the pod is edible. Harvest early & often, best around 2.5 cm (80 days, or 1-2 days after flower fade) and before 5 cm. It does well in a temperate/Mediterranean climate, not so well in the tropics. Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (winged bean, Goa bean etc) is available in Australia from a few specialist seed merchants, just search using the Latin name. It has white/blue flowers and climbs to 3m, all parts are edible though the beans should be picked < 10cm as they become woody. Plant soaked & scarified seed in early summer (or start indoors) for best germination and cropping during shorter winter days (note many varieties are day length sensitive - try Hunan or Emerald Star varieties, daylight neutral). Perennial unless its tuber is harvested.

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