VEGETABLE Winged Bean Seeds
Botanical Name: Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
Winged Bean is a highly nutritious, tropical legume known for its striking four-angled pods with frilly wings. Every part of the plant is edible—including the pods, leaves, flowers, and tuberous roots—making it one of the most versatile vegetables you can grow. Winged beans thrive in warm climates and are prized for their high protein content and vigorous growth.
Why Grow Winged Bean?
- Produces crunchy, ribbed pods that are delicious when steamed, stir-fried, or used in curries.
- All parts of the plant are edible—flowers, leaves, pods, and roots—maximizing harvest from a single crop.
- Fixes nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility for future crops.
- Grows as a climbing vine; ideal for vertical gardening and space-saving trellises.
- Popular in Southeast Asian cuisine and valued for its high nutritional content.
Growing Instructions
- Soak seeds overnight before planting to improve germination rates.
- Sow directly into garden beds or large containers with sturdy support for climbing vines.
- Provide a trellis or vertical support structure at planting time to guide growth.
- Keep soil consistently moist, especially during dry weather, and mulch to retain moisture.
- Winged beans require a long, warm growing season and perform best in tropical and subtropical climates.
Plant Details:
Plant Type: Warm-season perennial grown as an annual in cooler climates. Climbing vine up to 3–4 m.
Sowing Information:
- Sow When:
- Tropical Climates: Spring through summer when soil is warm.
- Temperate Climates: Late spring after danger of frost; needs a long warm season to mature.
- Germination: 7 – 14 days
- Depth: Sow seeds 2 – 3 cm deep.
- Position: Full sun with protection from strong winds.
- Sow Where: Direct sow in garden beds or large containers with trellis.
- Soil Type: Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with organic matter; pH 5.5 – 7.0.
- Spacing: 30 – 50 cm apart at the base of trellis or supports.
Details:
- Ensure warm temperatures (above 20°C) for optimal growth and pod development.
- Provide consistent water, especially during flowering and pod setting stages.
- Encourage pod production by harvesting regularly to promote continuous flowering.
Harvest:
Harvest young pods when they are 10–15 cm long and still tender—typically 75–90 days after sowing. Older pods become fibrous. Leaves and flowers can be picked earlier and used fresh or cooked. Dig up the roots at the end of the season if grown as a perennial.
