Bean Climbing 'Winged'
Bean Climbing 'Winged' is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Winged bean is a vigorous, tropical climber with mauve-blue flowers and four-angled pods with wavy margins. The pods, leaves, flowers and tubers are all edible. It is high in protein: the seeds contain 34% protein and 17% oil; the root contains 20% protein. If you are growing it for pods, leaves or flowers, grow it on a trellis; a trellis is not needed if you are growing it for the tuberous roots - let it sprawl. Of course, you will need to replant annually if you are harvesting the roots. The young leaves (top three sets of leaflets on a shoot) are cooked and eaten. The flowers taste like sweetish mushrooms. It is among the world's most effective nitrogen-fixers.
A short day length (11-13 hours of daylight) during hot weather is required to flower, so it is not suitable for temperate areas; it is also very frost sensitive. It grows to 3 - 4m. Wait for warm, humid weather before sowing; in the subtropics sow November - December; in the tropics sow October until January. It will grow on a wide range of soils but requires moisture to do well; it tolerates acidity. Plant rows 1m apart; with 30 - 60 cm between plants. 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. Days to harvest: 60.
Product: Bean Climbing 'Winged'
Product type: SEED ()
Botanical name: Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
Syn.: syn. Goa Bean, Asparagus pea
Winged bean is a vigorous, tropical climber with mauve- blue flowers and four-angled pods with wavy margins. Sometimes called 'the supermarket plant' because the pods, leaves, flowers and tubers are all edible. It is not suitable for temperate areas as it needs a long, warm, growing season and is frost sensitive.
Plant type: Short-lived perennial, will die back every year
Plant height: Grow to 3 - 4m; require a trellis
Sow when: Wait for warm, humid weather; soil temperature of at least 25°C is needed November - December
Subtropical: October until January
Germination: 7 - 10 days
Depth: 2 - 3 cm deep
Position: Full sun
Sow where: Direct into garden bed
Soil type: Wide range of soils; requires moisture; tolerates acidity
Rows: 1m apart
Details: Rub seeds with sandpaper or soak in hot water until seeds swell, to improve germination
Harvest: 60 days; harvest the young pods when 10 - 20 cm long to use as green beans
Suitable for hot and humid: Suitable for hot and humid growing conditions
*Has edible flowers
seeds per packet
Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
syn. Goa Bean, Asparagus pea