Purple Hyacinth Bean, or Lablab
(Photo found online)
Wow. Summer is leaving, thankfully, and cooler temps are beginning to pop up, a day here, and a day, there. That means I can start to spend an hour or two in my yard again, clearing out “excessive horticultural overgrowth” and planting winter annuals and veggies. For the last four months, I’ve been trapped inside, but I’ve been so busy working on my third novel, I didn’t have time to go outside, anyway, so I guess it worked out okay. Now as I near the end of my first draft, I can afford to take a few hours off a week to do the other thing that’s good for my soul. Plant stuff! 🙂
Question for any of you loyal followers who have stuck around while I was busy elsewhere. How many of you grow lablab, or purple hyacinth bean? I ordered some seeds from amazon a few weeks ago, and have been very pleased. I found a supplier offering 100 for $4.95 (the same price as those offering TEN!) I crossed my fingers that the seeds were viable, and planted them in a container by the framework of my patio gazebo. It said germination was ten days to two weeks. In three days, sprouts were popping up everywhere. In 3 weeks the first vines were nearing the top of the gazebo. And now, roughly 8 weeks later, the vines have flowers galore and purple bean pods coming out.
I’m really pleased with this one, and am planning to do the same thing on the opposing corner of the gazebo, so the vines can meet in the middle.
I’d like to hear from others who’ve grown this. There is an online argument as to whether the beans are edible, and from what I can gather, MOST sources say they can be toxic in large amounts, and recommend boiling them twice, throwing away the water each time. I don’t think I want to eat anything enough to go to that much trouble. I’ll just grow mine for looks, because the color of both the blooms and the bright purple pods is beautiful. What do you think?
Who's Your Granny? 
I do, I do. I can’t remember where I got the seeds but who ever it was, thank you.
They are beautiful and with this monsoon that we are having in central Florida, they have pass over the top of the roof of my bridge. They have itsy bitsy pods, when they grow and I collect enough seeds, I’ll cook the fresh ones and taste them and see if I die or like them. If I don’t post again is because they poison me. *snort ( like a good friend would say)
Oh now I remember who gave me the seeds, Marcia ?
I love you my friend. he he he 🙂
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And back atcha, Felix! If you try them, just remember to boil them twice and get rid of the water. It has a cyanide compound in it. The pods are so pretty as they get big…the color intensifies. I’m really glad you like growing it, and if you eat all the seeds, I know where you can get more. 😀
BTW, I’m dying to know what you think of the latest chapter in Rabbit’s story. HInt, hint.
And stop that snorting. It’s not nice to make fun of your friends!
😀
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