A$3.50
Availability: In stock
Lotus Tetragonolobus
PEA-ASPARAGUS-CLIMBER Heirloom vegetable from the 16th century, attractive with its pretty red flowers and edible fluted pods. It is an annual native to the Mediterranean region. Also commonly called Winged Pea, Square Podded Pea, Winged Lotus, this annual plant is easy to grow from seed. It blooms with sweet, pea-like, deep-red to crimson flowers that grow in pairs above small trifoliate leaves. Following the flower pollination, it develops four-winged seedpods that can grow up to 8 cm by late summer. A small vine or scrambler growing a maximum 50cm on a support. Pods may be eaten raw, boiled, sautéed, steamed, tempura battered & deep fried or pickled. The flowers can be added to salads & as an edible garnish. Pods allowed to develop beyond 5cm quickly turn fibrous but can be left to provide seed for next season.
To improve germination either rub seeds with sandpaper or soak in hot water until the seeds swell. Harvest the pods when 10 – 20 cm long. Use like green beans. Spring planting.
Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
Plant Height (cm)
150-300 cm (5-10 feet)
Season of Interest
Summer to Autumn
Temperature Range (°C)
20-35°C (68-95°F)
Determine / Indeterminate
Annual / Perennial / Biennial
Perennial / Annual in colder climates
Frost Hardy / Tender
Tender
Full Sun / Part Sun / Shade
Full Sun
Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings
Raise Seedlings
Soil
Well-draining, fertile soil
pH
6.0 - 7.5
Soil Temperature (°C)
18-25°C (64-77°F)
Seed Preparation
Soak seeds in warm water for a few hours before planting
Sowing Depth (mm)
2-3 cm (0.8-1.2 inches)
Plant Spacing (cm)
30-45 cm (12-18 inches)
Row spacing (cm)
60-90 cm (24-36 inches)
Watering
Regular watering, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged
Germination Time (Days)
7-14 days
Harvest Time (Days)
70-90 days (pods), longer for tuberous roots and mature seeds
Good Companion Plants
Corn, Pole Beans, Lettuce, Radishes, Marigolds
Bad Companion Plants
Garlic and Onions, Other Legumes
Pests
Aphids, Caterpillars, Leafhoppers, Bean Fly
Diseases
Powdery Mildew, Anthracnose, Rust, Bacterial Blight
ABSeeds is an Australian owned business trading under the umbrella of Direct Compost Solutions which is owned and managed by Victoria Brun.
We as a company endeavor to provide to the public, Organic, Old Fashioned, Heritage, and Open-pollinated seeds that have not been genetically modified.
We purchased the business in November 2018 and renamed it to ABSeeds (All ‘Bout Seeds) to make the title shorter and represent what we hope to achieve with this business in the years ahead.
Seeds that we can’t grow ourselves we will acquire from people who grow for us, or we may purchase seeds from reputable heritage seed companies.
ABSeeds is an Australian owned business trading under the umbrella of Direct Compost Solutions which is owned and managed by Victoria Brun.
