DOLICHOS LABLAB 'RUBY MOON'

Description

Purple to white fragrant, sweet pea-like, bicoloured pink flowers clusters on purple stems with dark green leaves are followed by eye-catching velvety purple bean pods making an attractive fast growing screen. This exotic tropical looking vine can be grown up arbors, trellises, fences, in hanging baskets, or as a groundcover. Whilst the immature bean pods are edible, they are probably not as good tasting as many other garden beans when the purple colour will turn green when cooked. Mature bean seeds may be eaten, but they must be boiled and drained at least twice to discard the toxic cyanogenic glucosides and we do not recommend eating them. Easy and fast to grow, they will grow to 20 feet in 80 days.

Sowing Advice

Sow March to April. Germinate at 20-30C in a propagator Cover seeds thinly. Germination usually takes 7-14 days. Do not exclude light at any stage. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 3in pots. Grow on in cooler, well lit conditions for 10-15 days before planting out 12in apart after all risk of frost. Support plants.

Key Facts