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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: allaboutliverpool on April 12, 2008, 14:44:40

Title: Asparagus peas
Post by: allaboutliverpool on April 12, 2008, 14:44:40
I have a pack of asparagus peas that have now geminated in cells.

Has anyone grown them?.

If so what tips have you got.

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_Beans_Runner.html
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: Georgie on April 12, 2008, 15:01:46
Throw them away and grow something which doesn't taste like cardboard.  ;D  ;D  ;D

G x
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: Rhubarb Thrasher on April 12, 2008, 15:07:13
I agree
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: calendula on April 12, 2008, 15:52:01
me also  ::)

tried cooking them every which way and they still tasted yuk but the worst thing was the stringy nature of them - pretty to look at though, nice flower
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 12, 2008, 18:15:28
Grow them as ornamentals.
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: 5rod on April 12, 2008, 20:27:35
5rod here
grow last year waste of time.
i agree with all above
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: RosieMcPosie on April 12, 2008, 20:29:32
oh no! :( i was really looking forward to mine :(
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: calendula on April 12, 2008, 20:41:37
well, you could try cutting the stringy wings off before you cook them but.......  :-\
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: Rhubarb Thrasher on April 12, 2008, 21:55:48
there's often a good reason why something isn't often grown - it's rubbish
Foreigners grow unusual things too, sometimes because they're crazy, and sometimes because they're starving. We used to eat the root of Cuckoo Pint and call it Portland Sago. Yummee
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: PurpleHeather on April 13, 2008, 06:54:49
I sliced mine and added them to stir fries.

Like a lot of veg and herbs when cooking they need to be mixed.

Too many people just steam or boil everything.

Pick everything young and small too.















Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: RosieMcPosie on April 13, 2008, 08:43:00
thank you for the tip, purpleheather. i'll try that when the time comes! :)
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: allaboutliverpool on April 13, 2008, 14:33:40
Thank you for all the information.

T&M's pack blurb includes:

"Gourmet vegetable"
"Reminiscent of asparagus"
"No need to use flavouring which would spoil the delicate flavour"

I think I will cook them highly flavoured similar to Ladies Fingers as a curry side dish"
I shall grow on about half a dozen just as a taster and  think a page on my site will be warranted as a warning in due course, using a few of the above A4A quotes!

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 13, 2008, 15:39:14
I never did like English cooking precisely because of the array of tasteless boiled veg I got when I was a kid. Loads of otherwise uninspiring stuff suddenly becomes interesting when mixed in, well spiced, and not overcooked.
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: PurpleHeather on April 14, 2008, 07:06:01
White cabbage is another tasteless veg but stir fried with onions and red peppers (even chilli if you dare) it looks good and tastes great.
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: dave on April 14, 2008, 07:53:35
Grew these many years ago- they are delicious BUT you have to pick them when they are really tiny- not more than an inch and a half  long, iirc.  I think we all have a tendency to let things grow just a bit more- do that with these and it'll be too late
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: PurpleHeather on April 14, 2008, 16:58:59
After further investigation on the web I found that the leaves can be eaten, supposed to be similar to spinach and the roots too are higher in protein than potatoes.

Not the right climate here it seems for the flowers and pods. They do not like more than 12 hours of daylight which is probably why the pods tend to go stringy when left to grow to the size they will attain in their native surroundings. They do not tolerate frost at all either.

Pak Choi is another plant that quickly flowers when grown here because of the long light days but it can be cooked flowers and all, as part of a Chinese/Thai style meal.

I will grow some because I like variety.









Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: saddad on April 14, 2008, 18:15:35
Ours stood quite a few frosts at the end of last year... only when we got a cold week... all week did they curl their toes up!
;D
Title: Re: Asparagus peas
Post by: cleo on April 14, 2008, 19:07:20
I grew them once-well doesn`t one try most things once?