something new to me.... Asparagus Pea..

[gavinjconway]

I found a packet of Asparagus Pea seed in a local garden centre and thought I'd try them... Wow they are so deliciously tasty and just like Asparagus taste. I let them grow a bit too long and they were really stringy. Now I.ve mastered them and pick when under 2 inches long and steam or simmer for a few minutes before covering with butter... delicious starter and quite a prolific grower with good red flowers.

[gavinjconway]

[Obelixx]

Each to their own.  I tried these a few years ago and found them not at all tasty and too quick to get to the stringy state.

Pretty though and a good talking point.

[cps12]

I have to agree with you Obbelix as I also found them stringy and horrid.  perhaps it is all to do with the size.  unfortunately they ended up in the compost after about 3 tries.  i have some seeds left so perhaps I might try next year and keep them small. 

it would have helped if the seed manufacturer had put more than just the seed depth and compost requirements on the packet.  a bit of detail such as when to eat rather than just a picture of a pod with no idea of how big it is.

[small]

Crikey. I grew these once and they are one of the few things we just couldn't eat. That's 30 years ago though, maybe they have improved - whose seeds were they, please? Any other variety details?

[Jeannine]

Me too, but I do know the secret is to pick them very tiny. I have a friend here who grows heaps of them

XX Jeannine

[brown thumb]

oh ive bought a pk to grow next year

[Jeannine]

Well pick them when real tiny XX Jeannine

[gavinjconway]

Had some tonight as a snak... they were a mixed bag of sizes.. the smaller were eaten whole whilst the bigger older are very stringy and need the flesh to be sucked off them.. Still a great taste with butter and S&P...

[ajb]

Mine grew really well, very pretty flowers, good ground cover. Sadly I'm with Small on these I've never warmed to the taste, which to me is nothing like asparagus or peas.

[Digeroo]

I grew them some years ago and tried them at every stage, rather though that the packet they came in might have been more palatable, really nice to hear you are enjoying them.  I have never tried again.  For attractiveness and edibility I prefer nasturiums.

[ajb]

I grew them some years ago and tried them at every stage, rather though that the packet they came in might have been more palatable

Hehe, wish I'd thought of trying them that way :D