winged beans aka goa beans, princess pea, asparagus pea, four-angled beans

[jdlondon]

Anyone grow them successfully in the UK?

If so, I'd love feedback as well as seeds - although I saw them on eBay so I can get them there. However, it's sent from Thailand and the net tells me the seeds have to be fairly new to work, and I'd prefer someone to get them from the UK - easier to resolve problems!

I've seen them in Chinatown, ate them raw in a sweet chilli salad and it was lovely.

[Two_Sheds]

Here's an older thread that might help you: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...-pea_6494.html

[jdlondon]

Thanks!

They say red flowers and I'd heard/seen pale blue-lavender. Probably just different varieties. Also, since they're meant to be prolific and great growers, I'm guessing our cooler climes stunt them a fair bit.

[jdlondon]

PS - The reason I wasn't finding seeds here for this was because it goes by the term asparagus pea here, whereas I was searching under the winged. I've found quite a few seed companies online now. And it seems to grow well in pots too, which is a relief.

[Nicos]

I've grown asparagus pea many times in the UK ( Cheshire). They've reached about 60cm .
I wouldn't say they're prolific producers though.
You do need to check them every couple of days and pick them at just over 3cm as they suddenly become very stringy.

I grew mine in the ground in the lottie and also in pots to enjoy their decorative red flowers near the house.
Both have worked well- just don't let them dry out.
Flavour?....delicate and creamy

[jdlondon]

3 cm? That's tiny. The ones in Chinatown - named winged beans - are much longer and I'm guessing that's what I'm after. The ones with bluish flowers. However, reading through the US sites and forums, they have problems growing them too. Seems to really need tropical conditions, and then they get all huge and prolific.

I've ordered a pack of asparagus pea anyway - did you keep them snug over winter and make it into a perennial? They say you can eat the tubers of mature ones, more than a year old, but I'm wondering if that's only for the larger ones like winged.

[shona_b]

I grow some last year - very easy to grow and lovely flowers but I have to say they were practically inedible (and had same feedback from other growers on allotments too). Even my neighbour who runs a chinese takeaway wouldn't have any off me (apart from as chicken feed!). I gave the rest of the packet away to a friend to use as a decorative ground cover!

[Nicos]

Mine had red flowers.
Perennial????...errm nope.
I think we must be talking about close relatives here - what you are describing is nothing like the 'usual one' bought from the seed suppliers.
Good luck with your quest!!!...let us know how you get on!

[jdlondon]

I've learnt asparagus pea is very different from the winged bean you can get from Chinatown. They have one in America called Hunan Winged Bean, and that's what I'm after. So far, looks like it hasn't made it over here yet. Will keep my eyes open though.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-...nged-Bean.aspx

[unclefudgly]

I've been looking for those too. Will let you know if I can source some seed

Cheers

[Two_Sheds]

^ there's probably a very good reason why they aren't available over here: they are grown in "tropical Asia"

you'll need to replicate their favoured growing conditions because no way can London be described as tropical

[jdlondon]

unclefudgly -

Please do!

Two Sheds -

I don't know, it's positively sweltering and humid sometimes! Like today - quite sure I got a wee bit burnt walking back from the shops.

And the information on their growing conditions can be quite different depending on the source, which makes me quite keen to see how it fares here for myself. I've seen banana plants outside here, no idea how they fare in the winter since it wasn't potted, and oranges and of course we have vineyards now too, so you never know, these changing climes might herald more things we can grow. I'm optimistic, sickeningly so some might say

[Two_Sheds]

Optimism is a good thing ~ have a go, and do come back and tell us how you got on