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Hello all.

I've just ordered some asparagus pea. I've never grown this or eat the produce and should have asked these questions first.

How easy is it to grow?

Will it need netting like standard peas to protect from the flying rats?

Is it just cooked like ordinary peas or are the pods cooked whole?

As always I look forward to your replies

Regards

Bluecar

If you let them get more than an inch long they're pretty grim... I personally think this thread really belongs in Non-Edibles :-) dunno about growing it, one taste of some my mate grew when they'd got too big was enough to convince me... if you want something that tastes like asparagus, grow asparagus.... if you want peas, grow peas..... sorry .....

Hello chriscross.

This seems like a mistake - probably not worth sowing. Any other views>

Regards

Bluecar

Do grow them. They look lovely. They taste horrible though. They very nearly put me off growing obscure veg. Grow them for their looks and you can try eating them when the time comes. The other plus is that they grow very easily and as I remember, the pigeons weren't interested in them. Two or three plants should be plenty.

Hi Bluecar  -I have grown them a few times and they are delicious and make a lovely red flowered bush in the garden...

However you must pick the pods when no more than 40 mm long or they are quite stringy to eat. I boil them for about 5-6 minutes, drain and add butter or marge and a sprinkling of salt. They have an asparagussy x pea flavour and are really delish. We have them as a snacky dish in the evening sitting on the couch with a plateful each... They grow on a small to medium sizes bushy plant about 2 foot tall and no need to support them. Grow them about 2 feet apart.

They are really easy to grow, nothing will eat them.
Now you've ordered them, give them a try, you may be one of the few who think they are worth eating. I found them fiddly to pick and prepare and while the taste was pretty much non-existent (certainly nothing asparagus-y) I couldn't find a cooking method that gave an acceptable mouth feel.

Thanks for your replies. I'll give it a go and try and remember to post my views on its taste when I harvest,

Perhaps it depends on the soil.  Even eaten small I found they tasted like cardboard.  Only ever grown them once.   Very pretty flowers.  Good luck.  It would be nice to hear how you get on with them.

They are very pretty-just don`t eat them.

The only so-called "asparagus substitute" that is anything like the real thing is hop sprouts...

Cheers.

PS. And tuberous pea is the only chestnut substitute.

They do make a nice ornamental edging though!