Dolichos Germination Information
Dolichos is the botanical name for Hycanith Bean
How to Sow Dolichos: - Sow indoors at 70-72° at a depth four times the diameter of the seed
- Seeds will germinate in 10 days
- Can also be sown outdoors in spring after danger of frost
- When sowing outside, sow at the same depth as sowing indoors
- When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed
How to Grow Dolichos: Spacing: Site in full sun in a normal, loamy, moist, well-drained soil
Transplanting: Transplant seedlings when there are at least two sets of true leaves
Additional Care: Time from seed sowing to bean production is 80 days
Appearance and Use: This climbing vine to about 20 feet tall, grows like a pole bean and needs
the support of staking, trellis, or arbor. It can also be grown in a basket from which it provides a
long train of flowers and seed pods. The fragrant, 1/2- 1 inch, lavender, pea-like flowers borne in
racemes strut-their-stuff all summer long and give-way to highly ornamental and edible seed pods.
The 4-6 inch long pods are vibrant purple and can be eaten whole. Pods contain 3-6 beans. The 3-
palmate leaves are dark green with red petioles. Each leaflet is ovate to triangular from 4-6 inches
long
About Dolichos: Pronunciation: dol’i-kos lab’lab
Lifecycle: Annual*
Origination: Fabaceae, native to Tropical Africa
Common Name: Hycanith Bean
*Grown as an annual but plants may overwinter in Zones 9 and 10