Lablab beans aka Hyacinth beans aka Dolichos

[veggiechicken]

I picked up some out of date seeds at a seedswap last year and its taken me until now to identify them! They're packed as "Bean Kartika (Bafi-157) and from Bangladesh.
The seeds are quite distinctive so I'm reasonably sure they are lablab beans.

I've found several threads that mention lablab beans and http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/site...heetLablab.pdf
Has anyone eaten them, what do they taste like and are they worth giving growing space to?
Don't know why I'm asking as they're probably not viable anyway

[Jay-ell]

Has anyone eaten them, what do they taste like and are they worth giving growing space to?
Don't know why I'm asking as they're probably not viable anyway

So if the responses said they were horrible and not worth the space - would that stop you from sowing them? Probably not being viable has never stopped you before (I think you take that as a personal challenge)

[veggiechicken]

I suppose it comes down to whether to treat them as an ornamental or an edible. Apparently they're perennial, in the same way that runner beans are - with luck!

[Alison]

I think there are dwarf and tall varieties so that doesn't help you. Also, better grown under cover in the UK

[Small pumpkin]

Don't know anything about them VC, but found these.

Roasted Lab Lab Bean - World's Greatest Pulse Dishes, Mains Recipe

Cooking Hyacinth Beans | ThriftyFun

[seasprout]

Lab lab



If you can blow up this picture, it's the full Monty on lab lab from my mate Sally's booklet for Garden Organic on unusual crops in the uk.

I'd be interested in how you get on if they grow...

[ecudc]

Make sure you cook the beans well in changes of water, Like kidney beans they are pretty toxic raw in fact they are a bit worse as they contain a precursor to cyanide.

Side effects vomiting, difficulty breathing, convulsions, unconsciousness.

It kinda put me off growing them even though Mr Wong thinks they are great. Let me know if they are worth it.

[Martin H]

It kinda put me off growing them even though Mr Wong thinks they are great.

That settles it. If Mr Wong likes them I'm not growing them. I've been caught that way before.

[veggiechicken]

I agree, Martin. I don't seem to like the same things as Mr Wong. Wonder what fancy name he has given these

These are the seeds I have:-

[veggiechicken]

2018 update

Finally, I have sown these seeds - and some others I acquired in 2004.
The good news is - one has germinated. Hoping for a few more.
From all I've read, I think I'll treat them as an ornamental, not an edible.
Yes, I am a bit of a chicken!