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 P P         P P P P P

(Best months for growing Asparagus Pea in Australia - sub-tropical 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 15°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 25 cm apart
  • Harvest in 8-11 weeks. Pick early, pick often.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best grown in separate bed

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
07 Aug 09, Trish (Australia - temperate climate)
oops sorry didn't realise i posted in Asparagus Pea - didn't know such a thing existed. my ? should be under Asparagus. however Lilly and Jimmy I'm happy to check out of can get Asparagus Pea for you. would like to try myself. not sure how we swap email addresses on this site.
Reply or Post a new comment
04 Aug 09, Jimmy (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi would love some if you have any spares...
Reply or Post a new comment
04 Aug 09, Lilly (Australia - temperate climate)
Trish, will you post me some asparagus seeds?
Reply or Post a new comment
03 Aug 09, Trish (Australia - temperate climate)
I got asparagus seeds from organic shop in Adelaide Central Market. happy to mail some if anyone can't get hold. My question is I now have fragile looking seedlings in my mini greenhouse. they are just single stems. when are they strong enough to plant out. would well manured soil be too strong for the new roots? thanks
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Aug 09, Dru (Australia - temperate climate)
Have just ordered some seeds from e seeds in UK, they ship internationally but do not know if they will arrive Will post if they do
Reply or Post a new comment
01 Jul 09, Susan (Australia - temperate climate)
Any ideas on getting the seeds/ or tubers. Have already tried Diggers club
Reply or Post a new comment
28 May 09, Bill Martin (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Also known as the Winged bean, Goa Bean or Asparagus Pea (Psophocarpus or Lotus tetragonolobus) of Southeast Asia often called the 'supermarket on a stalk'; almost the whole plant can be eaten. – The leaves taste like spinach; – the sautéed flowers like mushrooms; – the young pods are like green beans; – the young seeds are like peas; – the tubers are richer in protein than potato, yam or cassava; they can be boiled, fried, baked or roasted. – the mature seeds are like soya beans and also yield oil; they can be ground into flour and even liquefied into a beverage tasting like coffee (with no caffeine). – The leaves can be dried and rolled into low-tar, low-nicotine cigarettes; – As a leguminous plant it has nitrogen-fixing nodules in the roots - great for the garden rotation.
Reply or Post a new comment
03 May 09, steve gow (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Adelaide South Australia I would like to buy seeds and have been looking for quite a while. Thompson & morgan are apparently now no longer available
Reply or Post a new comment
23 Apr 09, Jackie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have never heard of Asparagus Pea. Can anyone tell me where to buy seeds?
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 71 - 79 of 79 comments
See comments for all plants

Ask a question or post a comment or advice about Asparagus Pea

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.