Growing Asparagus Pea, also Winged bean

Lotus tetragonobolus : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
        P              

(Best months for growing Asparagus Pea in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 59°F and 68°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 10 inches apart
  • Harvest in 8-11 weeks. Pick early, pick often.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best grown in separate bed

Your comments and tips

12 Oct 18, Robbie (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi, could I grow Psophocarpus tetragonolobus in Ashburton outdoors? if not should I grow them in the greenhouse? Thanks
15 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It is normally grown in hot humid areas so if you like try the green house.
18 Dec 21, Lauren (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I grow them outdoors here in Dunedin they do really well, but the ones in my tunnel house are much faster
05 Feb 18, Elizabeth (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello god morning I leave in Sydney I buy Asparagus Pea in Bunning is that ok I plant in the pots or in the ground ......thanks
07 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Growing anything in a pot requires a lot more attention re watering and fertilizing regularly. And you would only produce a small amount of produce. Give it a go if you like.
13 Dec 17, Sally (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Slow to germinate on Atherton Tablelands (far north Queensland, elevation 900m, so cooler than coast). Seeds available Bunnings.
08 Sep 17, Anslem Byrde (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Sydney can I grow winged beans here and if so where can I get seeds or plants
10 Sep 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Type it in to google - buy winged beans seeds.
20 May 17, Sharon Marie Fernandez (Australia - temperate climate)
My Asian variety winged bean bears white flowers, and it is the first time in 3 years that it has borne fruit. Are asparagus pea and Asian winged bean the same?
22 May 17, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes they are both the same.
Showing 41 - 50 of 120 comments

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.

- A. Gardener

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