Vegetables
Asparagus Pea -
Lotus tetragonolobus
The asparagus pea or winged pea, an heirloom vegetable known to have been cultivated and grown since the 1500's. Picked young they have an asparagus-like flavour. Top and tail the young pods before steaming and serve with meted butter, delicious!
- Plant type
- Half-Hardy Annual
- Position
- Full Sun
- Height
- 30cm
- Spread
- 1m
Growing calendar
Sowing & growing
Sow indoors in modules Mar-Apr or direct outside Apr-Jun in free draining soil 1.5cm deep. Cover those sown direct with a cloche to protect the young seedlings from the cold. Transplant plants grown indoors to their final position once large enough to handle. Keep watch for slugs and protect as required. Support the plants with twiggy pea-sticks as you would with ordinary peas.
Aftercare
Pick young to avoid stringy or fibrous pods and pick regularly to encourage more pods. Protect from birds who tend to pluck at the young pants and disturb them.
Gallery
Ref. SEA033