asparagus pea?

[serenity]

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

[Morty_007]

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!

[supersprout]

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.

[seasprout]

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. :-)

[*Feather*]

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.

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?

[la cebolla grande]

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

[SueA]

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.

[olde9856]

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.

[serenity]

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

[Hazel at the Hill]

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

[spanish_gardener]

I have a few plants and little space left. Can they grow up vertically on trellis?

[Matt94]

Hi Spanish gardener, asparagus peas will happily grow up a trellis