When to Plant Asparagus Pea (Winged Bean) in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Sow March to June. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is March.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Asparagus Pea (Winged Bean) guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Two distinct plants are sold under these names in Australia. The true Winged Bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) is a vigorous tropical climber where all parts are edible. The Asparagus Pea (Lotus tetragonolobus) is a small temperate annual with winged pods. This guide covers both, clearly distinguishing them. The Winged Bean is the more useful food crop but is strictly tropical/subtropical.

Planting Calendar for Tropical

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - D D D D - - - - - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 21.4°C (optimal range: 22–35°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Asparagus Pea (Winged Bean) in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

Winged Bean is perfectly suited to the tropics. Sow October-January for dry season harvest. Many varieties are short-day flowering, meaning they flower as days shorten in autumn. Day-neutral selections are available and are preferred for year-round production.

Soil
Well-drained, fertile loam enriched with compost. Winged Bean tolerates poor soils due to nitrogen fixation. Asparagus Pea prefers lighter, sandy soils.
pH Range
5.5-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6 hours). Winged Bean requires short days to flower in many varieties.
Spacing
30cm apart, 60cm between rows
Watering
Regular deep watering during flowering and pod development. Winged Bean is moderately drought tolerant once established but produces best with consistent moisture.

Companion plants: Corn, Sweet Potato, Cucumber

Avoid planting near: Onions, Garlic, Other Alliums

Tropical Growing Tips for Asparagus Pea (Winged Bean)

Recommended Varieties

  • Winged Bean (standard type from Boondie Seeds, Green Harvest)
  • Day-neutral winged bean selections

Key Challenges

  • Short-day flowering types may not pod until autumn
  • Bean pod borer pressure
  • Wet season fungal issues

Pro Tips

  • This is the ideal climate. Winged bean thrives in tropical heat and humidity
  • Seek day-neutral varieties for earlier podding
  • All parts are edible: young pods, leaves, flowers, tubers and mature seeds

Harvesting Asparagus Pea (Winged Bean)

When ready: Winged Bean: Pods ready when 7-10cm long, still bright green and snap crisply. Wings (flanges) should be flexible, not tough. Asparagus Pea: Harvest at 2-3cm maximum length. Larger pods are woody and inedible.

How to harvest: Pick pods individually with a gentle twist or cut with scissors. Harvest every 2-3 days to encourage continued production. For Winged Bean tubers, dig after vine dies back at end of season.

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the tropical zone this September: Lemongrass, Ginger, Cucumber and Basil.

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Common Questions About Asparagus Pea (Winged Bean)

When do you plant asparagus pea in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does asparagus pea grow all year round in Cairns?

No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Mar to Jun. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.