Description

Bush Lab Lab Dolichos Chicken Bean Seeds

This open-pollinated lablab bean (Lablab purpureus, also known as Dolichos bean) is a warm-season legume offered as a bush type. It is commonly grown as an annual, although plants may persist longer in suitable frost-free conditions.

Plant Characteristics

• Roots and stems: Lablab develops a deep taproot. Growth habit varies by variety; monitor this bush type and provide light support if stems begin to trail.
• Leaves: Alternate, three-part leaves with broad, pointed leaflets. The original guide describes leaflets around 7.5–15 cm long and 8–14 cm wide, with fine hairs beneath.
• Flowers: Pea-shaped flowers grow in clusters. Lablab flower colours can range from white to blue or purple, depending on the variety.
• Pods: General lablab descriptions give pods around 4–15 cm long, containing 2–8 seeds. Actual pod size varies with variety and growing conditions.

Growing Conditions

• Season: Sow during a warm, frost-free period suited to your local climate. Year-round sowing is suitable only where temperatures and rainfall allow healthy growth.
• Sunlight: Choose a sunny position with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Soil: Use well-drained soil enriched with mature compost. Avoid persistently wet beds.

Sowing and Spacing

1. Prepare the bed: Loosen the soil and form raised beds or ridges where drainage is needed.
2. Sow directly: Plant seeds approximately 2–3 cm deep in moist soil where they will grow.
3. Bush spacing: Start with approximately 30 cm between plants and 60 cm between rows, as specified for bush types in the original guide. Increase spacing if plants become crowded.
4. Water gently: Keep the soil evenly moist during germination without saturating it.
5. Thin if needed: Retain the strongest seedling at each planting spot and cut unwanted seedlings at soil level.

Watering and Plant Care

• Watering: Water at the base regularly, especially during flowering and pod development. Adjust to rainfall and soil moisture.
• Mulching: Apply dry leaves or straw to reduce weeds and conserve moisture, keeping mulch away from stems.
• Feeding: Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can encourage leafy growth at the expense of pods. Use compost and additional fertilizer according to soil needs.
• Support: Bush plants generally need less support than climbing types. Use short stakes if plants lean or pods touch the soil.
• Pest checks: Inspect leaves, flowers and pods regularly. Identify the problem before selecting a suitable labelled treatment, avoiding sprays on active pollinators.

Harvesting and Food Safety

• Tender pods: Harvest young pods before they become fibrous, and pick regularly to encourage continued production.
• Cooking: Lablab pods and beans must not be eaten raw. Use an established preparation method appropriate to the variety and harvest stage.
• Mature dry beans: Require careful preparation, including soaking, discarding the soak water and thorough boiling in fresh water. Do not assume brief cooking or a slow cooker alone makes them safe.
• Planting seeds: Seeds supplied for sowing are not intended for consumption.

Additional Growing Tips

• Containers: Grow in a roomy container with drainage holes. Container plants may need more frequent watering than garden beds.
• Airflow: Avoid overcrowding to help leaves dry after rain and reduce disease pressure.
• Seed saving: Leave selected healthy pods to mature and dry on the plant when weather permits. Shell and dry seeds thoroughly before storing in a labelled, airtight container in a cool, dry place.
• Variety preservation: Use appropriate isolation when saving seeds near other lablab varieties to help maintain the variety.

Pros and cons

• Guaranteed Authenticity: Every seed & bulb is hand-selected & verified to be true-to-variety native & open-pollinated.
• Strong Resilient Growth: Traditional varieties bred over generations for hardiness adaptability & natural resistance.
• Supports a Larger Cause: Every purchase supports small farmers & helps conserve endangered native seed varieties.
• Seed-Saving Ready: Being non-hybrid you can save seeds from your harvest & grow the same variety again next season.
• Premium Pricing: Sourcing rare native genetics directly from small farmers plus manual quality checks costs more than mass-market hybrid seeds.
• Limited & Seasonal Stock: Because many varieties are rare & grown in small batches stock is limited & can sell out before the season peaks.
• Slightly More Care Needed: Native & heirloom varieties may need more attentive growing conditions than common commercial hybrids.
• Longer Dispatch on Some Items: Certain rare or seasonal varieties may take longer to source & dispatch than always-in-stock products.