Heirloom Asparagus Pea Varieties

Asparagus pea is considered to some to be esoteric. Find out just how easy it is to grow and prepare this heirloom vegetable.

By William Woys Weaver
Published on July 23, 2013
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courtesy by William Woys Weaver
Asparagus pea will tolerate the same sort of arid, worn-out ground preferred by nasturtiums.

Heirloom Vegetable Gardening by William Woys Weaver is the culmination of some thirty years of first-hand knowledge of growing, tasting and cooking with heirloom vegetables. A staunch supporter of organic gardening techniques, Will Weaver has grown every one of the featured 280 varieties of vegetables, and he walks the novice gardener through the basics of planting, growing and seed saving. Sprinkled throughout the gardening advice are old-fashioned recipes — such as Parsnip Cake, Artichoke Pie and Pepper Wine — that highlight the flavor of these vegetables. The following excerpt on heirloom asparagus pea varieties was taken from chapter 6, “Asparagus Pea.”

To locate mail order companies that carry these heirloom asparagus pea varieties, use our Custom Seed and Plant Finder. Check out our collection of articles on growing and harvesting heirloom vegetables in Gardening With Heirloom Vegetables.


A Brief History of Heirloom Asparagus Pea Varieties

Psophocarpus tetragonolobus/Tetragonolobus purpureus

A legume that is neither asparagus-like nor a pea, this cheerful garden vegetable may be considered esoteric by some but is an epicurean treat to the initiated. It is so easy to grow that I wonder I do not see it in more gardens, for it will tolerate the same sort of arid, worn-out ground preferred by nasturtiums. As far as I am concerned, there is always a spot for it in my garden, if for no other reason than its profusion of bright red flowers, which the Victorians found quite pleasing. James Vick of Rochester promoted it in his seed catalog (1872, 62) as an ornamental mixed with sweet peas.

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