Select your climate zone Australia - cool/mountain Australia - sub-tropical Australia - temperate Australia - tropical New Zealand - cool/mountain New Zealand - sub-tropical New Zealand - temperate United Kingdom - temperate/cool United Kingdom - temperate/warm What is my climate zone?

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
								P	P	P	P

(Best months for planting Asparagus Pea in New Zealand - temperate regions)

• Easy to grow.
• Harvest in 56-80 days
• Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
• Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 20°C.
• Space plants: 20-25cm

This low spreading plant has small trifoliate leaves, and deep crimson flowers are borne in pairs. Harvest pods when approximately 3cm long. ( about 80 days) Asparagus pea is easy to cultivate. It needs average moisture, full sun, and ordinary soil. It needs a long growing season to flower and fruit properly, so start it indoors in cooler areas.

Support with twigs to keep the stems off the ground. Protect from slugs and snails. Pick pods when small as they become hard and dry if left too long.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Asparagus Pea

Cook quickly by steaming and serve with just a touch of butter and they are said to taste like their namesake .

Your comments and tips

08 Aug 09 Sandra (New Zealand - temperate climate)

You can buy asparagus peas with the scientific name of Tetragonolobus purpureus from King Seeds in New Zealand (www.kingseeds.co.nz). I assume this is the same thing? I ordered a bunch last week and they were here witnin 3 or 4 days.

25 Aug 09 Dru (Australia - temperate climate)

As posted earlier, eseeds cancelled the request for seeds today. Have managed to get them from King seeds in NZ. Their service was great, and although a bit involved I finally got the seeds.Barbara at King Seeds was wonderful and very determined to get me what I needed.

23 Sep 09 Trish (Australia - temperate climate)

I contacted King Seeds NZ. got an email back to say the order would need to be approved by our quarantine authorities. Rang them today and Asparagus Pea seeds are not allowed to be imported into Australia. It is listed as a noxious weed. Sad for us :(

23 Sep 09 Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Trish, you can get Asparagus Pea from Eden Seeds (Queensland). Maybe they don't know it's a noxious weed? It's not a very successful weed in Armidale - mine struggled to grow.

26 Sep 09 Michelle (Australia - temperate climate)

Bought a packet of Asparagus Peas yesterday from a large nursery is Maribyrong Vic. Packed by "Erica Vale Aust Pty Ltd" Mango Hill Qld. On front of pack is says "ideal for australian conditions"

16 Oct 09 Karen (Australia - temperate climate)

I live in Perth - any ideas if there are suppliers of asparagus pea in WA? Quarantine regulations very tough here, so importing from NZ probably not an option.

10 Jan 10 Dru (Australia - temperate climate)

Seeds arrived from NZ with no trouble Mine also struggled to grow. Really felt it was too hot but it has been a scorcher. The few I did get to grow had the prettiest red flower but then they all died. Will try next year in a more sheltered spot.

16 Jan 10 Robyn Williamson (Australia - temperate climate)

I am delighted to hear that Asparagus pea is classified as a noxious weed, easy to grow plants are the best kind in my opinion. I haven't tried them before and hope they taste good. Has anyone here ever tasted them? If so, do you have any interesting recipes?

16 Feb 10 Esther (Australia - temperate climate)

Asparagus pea is known as "four angled bean" from where I come from. It grows very easily when it's draped onto the fencing. We used to slice the asparagus pea & stir fry it with sambal prawn. Yummy!

23 Feb 10 Errol (Australia - temperate climate)

Asparagus pea seeds available from various agents of Ericavale Aust. 07 5497 0266 . Various growers had problems but others in Melbourne found very vigorous