Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi has anyone ever grown asparagus pea? I have bought some seeds, mostly as an ornamental to put in pots to brighten up the concrete desert called my back garden

haven't grown them but will be doing so this year...the pods are supposed to be full of flavour, steamed lightly and tossed in a little butter and pepper and I can't wait!
YUM!

I grew them several years ago in my back garden, and they're very easy to grow. You do have to keep a close eye on them and pick very small, almost as soon as they've flowered, or they start to go stringy. Very pretty bushy growth and flowers, a kitchen garden ornamental. They have a delightful flavour all of their own like morty says. I'd love to taste them again, but can't guarantee visiting the plot every day to harvest. If I grew them again, I'd sow them quite closely and put in pea sticks for support.

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SSx
not every situation requires a big onion

This year will be my first attempt at them also. I saw some last year in a central London park used as an edging plant to a tropical display and they looked lovely. :-)

I was planning to grow them in the plot for the first time this year, but after SS's comment I think I'll grow them in the garden instead so I can keep an eye on them. Can they be grown in a pot? Do they need a sunny spot or will a part shade one be ok?

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*Feather*

They prefer a sunny spot - they are found naturally in southern Europe in very hot dry areas - often by the road. I grow them every year, usually as an edging to the veggie patch as the colour of the flower is superb. I'm going to grow some as well in a block on the corner of one of the beds on the lottie.

One of my favourites!

They do develop pods v quickly but not all at the same time, so even if you miss a few days you can compost the really big ones and continue to pick small ones.

Good luck, and enjoy - I've always found them trouble-free. Should be fine in a pot if in a sunny spot.

LCG

Hi Serenity. I grew these for the first time last year & was a bit disappointed with them. They look lovely & have pretty little red flowers on them but the actual pods weren't all that nice. I tried to pick them while they were still young but as they don't all appear at the same time I had to leave a few until they were a bit bigger to get enough for a couple of portions. I steamed them & tossed them in butter & black pepper but they didn't have much flavour & were a bit chewy. I grew some in a pot & the rest in a veg. bed & they faired about the same.

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

Sorry folks grew them a few years ago and they were awful, even when small they were too stringy and chewy to eat. Would not waste the room in the plot with them again.

sueA thank you for the wonderful photographs When I bought the seeds I did have my reservations but as my only planting area is the back garden I was trying to kill 2 birds with one stone, grow edibles which also look beautiful too. Now I have the seed I will grow a few but if anyone else wants some I have plenty to spare

If I send you an SAE, Serenity, can I have a pinch to try?

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....