How to grow Winged Beans in Australia
Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), also called the four-angled bean, is a vigorous tropical climbing legume with pretty blue flowers and pods that have four frilly ridges. Almost the whole plant is edible: young pods, leaves, flowers, dried seeds and the tuberous roots. It loves heat and humidity and suits Queensland, northern New South Wales and the tropics.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Winged Beans in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to February | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to February | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | October to December | Marginal tropical; narrow frost-free window; unreliable in Sydney. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Frost sensitive perennial. Sow from October to December, mulch heavily and use frost cloth if needed. Plants die in cold winters. |
| Adelaide & SA | Not suited | Not viable in Adelaide. Needs a long humid tropical season. |
| Perth & WA | Not suited | Not reliable in Perth. Needs a long humid tropical season and sets pods only as days shorten. Grow snake beans instead. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Tropical legume killed by cold nights, let alone frost. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Winged Beans unsuitable for Canberra: tropical legume; frost kills. Use peas or beans suited to cool season. |
| North Queensland | September to February | Wet season Sep to Feb. Winged beans are tropical staple legume; thrive in heat and humidity. |
| Darwin & Top End | September to February | Wet season Sep to Feb. Winged beans are tropical staple legume; thrive in heat and humidity. |
Not to be confused with: Snake Beans and other climbing beans. Winged beans have short pods with four ruffled wings, and most varieties only flower as the days shorten.
Where to plant
Winged beans need full sun, heat and humidity, ideally temperatures around 25°C, and rich, well-drained soil. Put up a tall, strong trellis or fence before sowing. Growth is slow for the first month or so, then the vines take off.
Most varieties are short-day plants: they grow leaves through summer and flower only when day length falls below about 12 hours, so pods mostly come in late summer and autumn. Plants are killed by cold nights and frost.
- South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers, North Queensland and Darwin: sow from September to February. In the tropics they are a wet season crop.
- Sydney: marginal. Sow from October to December; the frost-free window is short and pods may not set before winter.
- Melbourne: sow from October to December in the warmest spot, mulch heavily and use frost cloth if needed; expect unreliable crops.
- Adelaide, Perth, Hobart and Canberra: not suited. In Perth, grow snake beans instead.
How to plant
- Soak the hard seeds in warm water overnight, or nick the seed coat gently, to speed germination.
- Sow about 3 cm deep and about 30 cm apart along the base of a tall trellis, once the soil is warm.
- Keep the soil moist. Seedlings appear in one to two weeks.
- Weed carefully for the first four to six weeks while the young plants grow slowly.
Watering and feeding
Water deeply and regularly, especially while flowering and podding, and mulch the root area to hold moisture through the heat.
Feed lightly. Like other legumes, winged beans fix their own nitrogen; compost at planting is usually enough, and heavy nitrogen gives leaves rather than pods.
Pruning and care through the year
- Guide the vines onto the trellis and tie them in as they grow.
- Pick pods young and often to keep more setting.
- In frost-free areas the plants can be left to grow on as short-lived perennials, and the tuberous roots can be dug at the end of the season.
Harvesting
Pick pods while they are young, tender and firm, before the ribs turn fibrous, at about finger length. Snap or snip them off every few days. Young leaves, shoot tips and the blue flowers can be picked throughout the season.
Pods keep up to about four days in a bag in the fridge.
Growing in pots
Winged beans can grow in a large pot at least 40 cm wide with a tall trellis, in a hot, sunny spot. Water often in summer.
Using it
Slice young pods and stir-fry, steam or add them to curries and salads; they keep their crunch. Young leaves are cooked like spinach and the flowers add colour to salads. Mature dried seeds are very high in protein but must be soaked and cooked for a long time, two to three hours, before eating. The tuberous roots have a nutty flavour and are cooked like potatoes.
Saving seed
Leave some pods on the vine until they turn brown and dry. Shell the seeds, dry them well and store them in a cool, dry place for next season.
Companion planting
Winged beans suit a tropical summer bed with other heat lovers. Keep them away from the onion family, as with other beans.
Good companions
- Corn A tall summer crop with the same warm season; beans add nitrogen to the soil.
- Sweet potato A sprawling groundcover for the base of the trellis in the same warm, wet season.
- Basil A summer herb for the same bed whose flowers bring in bees.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to winged beans.
Pests and diseases
Winged beans are generally tough. Watch young plants for the usual bean pests.
Pests to watch for
- Bean fly Seedlings wilt and stems swell and crack near the soil in warm weather.
- Aphids Black aphids on shoot tips and flower stalks.
Winged Beans is rarely troubled by disease.
Common questions
Why are my winged beans not flowering?
Most winged bean varieties flower only when days get shorter than about 12 hours, so plants sown in spring grow leaves all summer and flower in late summer and autumn. Cold weather before then stops them setting pods.
When should I plant winged beans?
Once the soil is warm in spring and summer: September to February in Queensland, the Northern Rivers and the tropics, and October to December in Sydney and Melbourne, where they are unreliable. Pick your region at the top of the page.
What parts of the winged bean are edible?
Nearly all of it: young pods, leaves, shoot tips, flowers, dried seeds and the tuberous roots. Dried seeds must be soaked and cooked for a long time before eating.
How do I germinate winged bean seeds?
Soak them in warm water overnight or nick the hard seed coat, then sow about 3 cm deep in warm soil. They come up in one to two weeks.
How do I cook winged beans?
Slice young pods and stir-fry, steam or add them to curries and salads. Cook young leaves like spinach. Dried seeds need soaking and two to three hours of cooking.
Can winged beans grow in Perth or Adelaide?
They are not reliable there. They need a long, warm, humid season and short days to flower. Snake beans are a better heat-tolerant bean for those areas.
Sources we checked: Wikipedia: Winged bean; Sustainable Gardening Australia: Growing beans.