[brucesgirl]

We got a stack of seed packs from someone at Christmas, and one of them was aparagus peas.
The picture on the pack looks intriguing.
Has anyone else grown them, and what do they taste like??

[WG.]

Try a search BG since I remember someone did.  Search tips in Help topics in my sig.

As I recall, they found them pretty & pretty tasteless

[mashauk]

We got a stack of seed packs from someone at Christmas, and one of them was aparagus peas.
The picture on the pack looks intriguing.
Has anyone else grown them, and what do they taste like??

I have, they're very pretty and flower and crop for ages (well ours did), they're very unusual to look at and would be a talking point at any dinner party, but to be honest I didn't like the taste, I found them quite dry and stringy but perhaps I either left them too long (you're supposed to pick them when they're about 1" long, but they hide!) or didn't cook them properly, I believe you're supposed to steam them for best results.

I'd be tempted to grow some more in a big pot, just because the flowers are very pretty and seemed to last until about late October/November.

[gobs]

That's it Bruce, it's not bad taste, it's no taste, no stringy anything, got to be picked just under an inch.

And everything said goes, beautiful, attracts insects, careless and produces till the end of autumn.

Now then as per Grannie, anywhere for filler, soups, stews, hot pots, veggie burgers. And just steam it for a few minutes, butter and serve amongst the rest.

Go for it! No space no effort required, legume, so improves your soil, too.

[splodger]

i grow them - for the novelty value - and the flowers - i give a high proportion of my crops away to neighbours, charities etc - and it's lovely to get people to try something different

i going to try black and white kidney beans  (yin yang) for the first time - i hope they taste as good as they look  

[brucesgirl]

Right - will grow them as border plants and let my husband have a taste of them first.

Thanks all, and Happy New Year.

[mashauk]

Right - will grow them as border plants and let my husband have a taste of them first.

Thanks all, and Happy New Year.

Make sure he cooks them first, they're not very nice raw!

Happy New Year to you too

[GrannieAnnie]

When I grew them this year, sent by Mel in darkest Wales, she said yes, to pick whilest an inch or just under, steam them for 5 minutes or so, and mix with cream and mint!!!  

They are not the tastiest thing going, but my Nici loved them like that!!!

[splodger]

ga - did you want some of those chilli seeds?

[GrannieAnnie]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind splodger old girl!!!!  Can I send anything in exchange???

[Nikkithefoot]

I grew them a couple of years ago. If picked early enough they have a very delicate asparagus taste. Need steaming as has been said, and served in a similar way to asparagus. If left a day too long on the plant, they become horribly stringy and a bit like a runner bean that should have been left for seed.

As a comparison I personally think they have bags more flavour than courgettes for example.

I'm growing tham again, didn't last year cos I couldn't find any seeds.

Nikki

[gobs]

As a comparison I personally think they have bags more flavour than courgettes for example.

True. (not difficult though ) And just as easy to grow and much prettier.

[GrannieAnnie]

I grew them a couple of years ago. If picked early enough they have a very delicate asparagus taste. Need steaming as has been said, and served in a similar way to asparagus. If left a day too long on the plant, they become horribly stringy and a bit like a runner bean that should have been left for seed.

As a comparison I personally think they have bags more flavour than courgettes for example.

I'm growing tham again, didn't last year cos I couldn't find any seeds.

Nikki

Have you got some seeds now Nikki?  Because I've got some if you or anyone is interested!

Oh forgot, to say, Oliveview sent me some seeds too!!!!

[Nikkithefoot]

Thanks GA, I was out at the garden centre between Christmas and New Year, saw the seeds so got them. Am planning to grow some in hanging baskets, pots and in the border alongside my green house.

Nikki