Hyacinth Bean

Also known as: Lablab, Dolichos, Indian Bean;
Tamil Name: Avarakkai; Scientific Name: Lablab purpureus;

Intermediate Level

B G T

Planting/Sowing

Jul – Aug;

Harvesting

Oct – Nov;

First Harvest

~50 – 60 Days (Bush var.);
~90 Days (Climber var.);

General Info

Crop category	Legume
Life span	Annual
Type of crop	Bush, Climber
Part(s) of the crop to harvest	Pod (leaves, flower, root also edible)
Avg. Height	3 – 4.5 feet

Climate & Humidity

Lablab grows well under diverse conditions depending on the variety, though it is native to tropical regions. It does best in regions with daily temperatures between 18 – 35 C.

Planting / Sowing

When to plant / sow seeds (ideal season):
July, August

How to plant:
Direct sowing; For climbing/pole varieties, a pandhal or trellis will be required.

Soil Depth & Spacing Requirements

For pandhal Avarai: Sow 4-5 seeds per hole. After germination leave 3 healthy seedlings per hole. Spacing should be 1 metre between the holes and 2 metres between the rows.

For bush beans: Sow 2 seeds per hole at 30 cm spacing between the plants.

NOTE: Please go through the Guides in the Knowledge Base for more details on topics ranging from Spacing & Lighting to Soil and Nutrients.

Irrigation

Irrigation to be done 3 days after sowing. After that, weekly irrigation or every 10 days, depending on the soil moisture.

NOTE: Irrigation should depend on how moist / wet the soil is. Check your plants everyday to see if they require irrigation or not. Check the Watering & Irrigation guide for more info.

Harvesting

When to harvest
50 – 60 days after planting for bush varieties; Around 90 days for climber varieties.

How to harvest
Harvest to be done by plucking the pods at moderate tender stage.

NOTE: Harvest periods can vary depending on the environmental, climatic, soil conditions.

Pests & Diseases

Pests	Aphids, Pod borer, Leaf hopper
Common Diseases/ Problems	Powdery mildew
Pest and Disease prevention measure(s)	Read Pest & Disease Control for more information.

Did you know?

In addition to the pods, hyacinth leaves may be eaten raw or cooked like spinach, flowers can be eaten raw / steamed, and roots can be boiled or baked. Bonus Fact: Extracts from the bean have shown promising anti-viral properties against influenza virus as well as SARS-CoV 2. [Source]