CHINESE CONTAINER GARDENS - Growing Chinese Vegetables in Your Own Backyard - page 203

a windowsill, too.) Rigorous pinching back is necessary even with the dwarf varieties;
otherwise the vines will soon be growing over the lights instead of under them. Dwarf
varieties shouldn't require strings or other support, but they may do better and grow
taller with something to grow on. Try them both ways and see what works for you.
Outdoors on a terrace, snow peas can be sown while you're still shivering from the
cold, about six weeks before the last frost date in your area. Sow the seeds in a 4-inch-
deep trench. When plants are about 6 inches high, fill in the trench with soil mix.
Keep the soil well watered; it should always feel a little damp to your finger-tips.
Side-dress lightly or water with diluted liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
Asparagus Pea, page 102
Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
Asparagus pea is an excellent plant for container gardening: decorative, prolific, and
easy to grow. The vines need strings, a pole, or a small trellis for support. If you don't
want to bother with these or don't have much space, grow the other, much smaller spe-
cies (Lotus tetragonolobus). It's small enough to fit in hanging baskets.
Asparagus pea requires full sun and prefers cooler temperatures than most houses
are kept at. To grow it indoors over the winter, pick a room you keep on the cool side
and set the pot or window box in the sunniest window. For best results, plant in a “ditch”
so you can add soil to the container, and cover up the first few inches of the vine as it
grows. Since it takes only 50 days to mature, you can sow it over and over again during
the winter.
Outdoors, start it in early spring since plants are frost hardy and do best in cool
weather. Sow seeds ½ inch deep and about 4 inches apart in a deep window box. Or
sow 3 inches apart in a circle in a round 5-gallon container. Train each vine to a single
string. Fertilize when the flowers first form.