Dolichos flowers cultivation. Liana dolichos or "curly lilac": growing features

Growing climbing lilacs from seeds is available to any beginner. In order for the flowers to bloom, you need to know when to plant the seeds. It is best to plant seeds in March. However, if the moment is missed due to frost, sowing seeds can be postponed to April or early May.

To speed up the cultivation of hyacinth bean seeds, they are processed. When this process is completed, sowing begins:

Starting in May, containers with grown seedlings can be taken out into the open air for the purpose of hardening. This will benefit the plants. They will begin to accustom themselves to the natural conditions of existence. Some bushes reach such sizes by this time that they need supports.

Planting seedlings in the ground

The choice of time for planting dolichos seedlings is important point, because tall young growth does not yet guarantee the production of high-quality climbing lilac bushes.

Seedlings should be planted as follows:

Care

Curly lilac is a very heat-loving plant, so the site must be protected from through winds and well lit by the sun. In addition to a temperature of 20-30 degrees, a humidity of 70% must be provided. Otherwise, you should not expect returns from hyacinth beans. The plant will develop sluggishly, and flowering, in general, will not occur. When the summer is cold and too high humidity, there will be difficulties with pollination of inflorescences. The cultivation of varieties does not depend on the length of daylight hours.

The soil should be loose, neutral. If the soil is alkaline or acidic, then for this plant does not fit. Dolichos can be successfully grown in a summer cottage or garden plot. The main thing is that the soil has good drainage, is saturated organic fertilizers and had a low nitrogen content.

In the early days, curly lilacs require increased watering. However, the soil should not be overly moistened. With the passage of time, resistance to dryness increases. At this time, watering is done 2 times a week and daily, in case of hot weather. If possible, the soil is mulched, and weeds are regularly weeded. If necessary, the planted area is covered with a film with constant ventilation to prevent excess moisture.

During the period of the beginning of flowering, active top dressing of the plant is carried out, which is necessary weekly. This is required so that the flowers bloom most magnificently. In the future, top dressing is introduced more moderately. The emphasis is on superphosphate.

In order to stimulate tillering, the branches are constantly pinched. Two-meter supports are installed next to the bushes, to which branches are tied.

Fruit picking is carried out after 2 months. At this time, the beans are still young and not suitable for seedlings. They are used for food, as they reach their maximum size in growth. The beans are harvested for seeds after 15 weeks. Later it is not recommended because they develop a fibrous structure. Having harvested, all powerful branches are shortened by half, for enhanced growth stimulation.

Dolichos is highly resistant to diseases and pests. Although it can be attacked by aphids or whiteflies. Occasionally leaves become stained with powdery mildew.

Curly lilac is often used in landscape design. Its ability to curl in the form of vines, reaching 4 meters in height, is used for landscaping arbors and various buildings. The original combination of colors in the form of greenery in the upper part and yellowed foliage at the bottom looks very impressive. In parallel, new flowers constantly appear on a growing bush with bright colors that are directed upwards. You can also grow hyacinth beans in an apartment - in loggias or on a balcony.

Beans are widely used in cooking. Given the unpretentiousness in the care of such a plant, it can be an ornament as garden plot, so home furnishings.

hyacinth beans

plant description

This flower belongs to the legume family. Grown on a personal plot, it can become a worthy decoration of a flower garden, and its fruits are suitable for eating. They are rich in trace elements, while the content of starch and protein in them is even higher than in beans.

Dolichos grows to a height of 1.5-3 meters, has a developed root system, the stems weave along the support and wrap around it counterclockwise, have a red-brown color. Along the entire length of the vine grows large foliage, heart-shaped, dark green, purple or red-violet, with a rough surface.

Hyacinth beans begin to bloom in mid-July, and the flowering period continues until the frost. Tassels long, with large quantity large flowers, having a shape characteristic of all legumes. They appear at the ends of the shoots and in the axils of the apical leaves, exude a pleasant and delicate aroma. Their life cycle is only 4 days. Each inflorescence blooms up to 20 days, has up to 40 buds, replacing each other during flowering. Flower petals are painted in white-yellow or pink-purple tones. The fruits are wide burgundy pods. Their length is 5-6 cm, inside there are 2-4 oval beans with a black surface and a white spot along the spine.

Common varieties

In natural habitats, dolichos has a rather impressive number of varieties, and within our climatic zone, the choice of varieties is much narrower, but still it exists. Let's take a look at the most common of them:

  • Dolichos ruby ​​moon is a vine about three meters high, resistant to heat. Lush long inflorescences with beautiful purple flowers are suitable for cutting, they remain in water for a very long time. The plant is decorative even after the end of flowering: maroon flat pods will decorate it until late autumn.
  • Lilac cascade - great for growing in flowerpots and on the balcony, quite resistant to cold snaps and short frosts, prone to formation a large number side shoots. More suitable as an element of decor than for harvesting.
  • Purple garlands are a tall variety, the length of its stems can reach 6 meters. This species has huge foliage and long bright purple inflorescences growing in the form of a garland. For this similarity, the liana got its name. Cut flowers can stand in water for up to several weeks.

Growing a flower

Hyacinth beans are an unpretentious plant that does not require constant attention, but in order to get a truly worthy specimen, some care will still be required.

Dolichos flower is grown seedling way, since he is thermophilic and does not tolerate cold weather, optimum temperature for the normal development of the plant - 20-30°C. Hyacinth beans form additional roots extremely weakly, so their propagation by cuttings is a very troublesome and thankless job.

For planting a flower in open ground, it is necessary to prepare seedlings.

seedling preparation

The optimal time for planting seeds is February or March, this can be done in cups or in specially prepared boxes. Before planting, the beans must be soaked for a day in warm water. In order to speed up the germination process, seeds are scarified. This can be done in several ways: process with a nail file or a knife, make a puncture with a needle, scratch the surface of the beans with sandpaper. With the help of this procedure, the water resistance of the shell is broken and moisture gets to the embryo faster. So that the beans do not sour, they can be temporarily placed in the refrigerator.

For normal flower growth, a neutral or slightly alkaline soil is needed. It is advisable to add a little to the soil wood ash or chalk. Seeds are planted to a depth of 3 cm at a distance of 4-5 cm from each other. Watering is carried out as needed, usually to maintain the desired state of the soil, it is enough to moisten it once a week.

Store pots with seedlings in a well-lit place at a temperature above +20 degrees, for example, on a balcony or on a windowsill. Already when growing seedlings, young plants need to install small supports. Planting climbing lilacs can also be done in a seedless way, in this case, the beans are planted on a prepared site in May, when the soil warms up enough, but then the seedlings germinate for a long time and develop slowly at first.

Flowering in this case begins later, around the end of August, and the beans do not ripen completely, which is a threat to the collection of quality seeds for use next year.

flower care

The optimal time for planting seedlings in open ground is the end of May - the beginning of June, for this they choose a sunny, unshaded place. If there is not enough light, flower growth will slow down greatly and flowering may not occur at all. Dolichos is very thermophilic, cold drafts and gusty winds are also unacceptable for him.

Hyacinth beans do not tolerate strongly acidic or alkaline soil, the optimal PH for them is neutral. It would be useful to loosen it and add humus before planting in the ground. Watering is done often: 2-3 times a week with a small amount of water, with severe drought even more often, while excessive moisture should not be allowed - it makes it difficult for oxygen to reach the roots.

The soil should dry out only on the surface, and weeding and weeding should be done regularly to improve aeration.

Seedlings are planted carefully at a distance of 30-40 cm, in order to preserve the roots, it is better to do this together with a clod of earth. Dolichos loves top dressing with a high phosphorus content, for this they prepare a liquid substrate and apply it to the soil about 1-2 times a month. Then the flower responds with more rapid flowering and abundant growth. Hyacinth beans are a climbing plant, and for its proper development, a support is used, the height of which should be 2 m. To form side shoots, it is necessary to pinch periodically.

Ripening and harvesting fruits

Beans become suitable for eating 1.5-2 months after planting seedlings, but for harvesting for seeds they ripen only in 10-15 weeks, as evidenced by the drying of the lashes. The pods are harvested and dried, after which seedlings are removed from them and poured into jars, where they are stored until the next season. Once harvested, the beans are suitable for cultivation for five years. To obtain high-quality seed material, it is better to take seeds from the first pods - the plant gives them more useful trace elements. A flower grown from these seeds will be stronger and more beautiful.

If the plans are to constantly breed this crop, then it is better to harvest beans for sowing at home than to buy in a store, since in the second case there is no guarantee that ripe seedlings are collected in the package. As a result, although dolichos will grow quite tall, its flowering will not be plentiful.

After harvesting the first harvest, it is desirable to shorten the main stems by half, this stimulates the growth of the flower and will make it possible to harvest the fruits several times.

Diseases and pests

Curly lilacs are unpretentious in their care, but, despite their rather high resistance to diseases and pests, they can still occasionally be exposed to them. Powdery mildew manifests itself in the form of white spots on the leaves, which can be eliminated in several ways:

  • using systemic fungicides;
  • apply natural remedies, such as a decoction of horsetail or garlic.

To prevent the appearance of this fungus, simple care is needed:

  • removal of fallen leaves;
  • watering to produce directly under the root of the plant.

With the appearance of yellow spots, the flower reacts to a lack of potassium, then appropriate fertilizing with potassium-containing fertilizers is carried out. Of the insects that harm the plant - aphids, caterpillars, nodular root nematodes, red spider mites and whiteflies may appear in the shade. You can destroy them by treating the plant with insecticides.

Eating

In European cuisine, lobia is rarely used, but in its historical homeland, dolichos is grown not only for eating as a valuable nutritious product, but also for medical purposes: to normalize the digestive tract, treat diseases of the stomach and liver.

In their structure, the beans contain a protein similar to an animal, have a mild and delicate taste. Both completely ripe and still young fruits, as well as immature pods, are suitable for food.

In cooking, they can be both a main course and a side dish for other meals; they are a good addition as a seasoning for meat, fish and seafood, giving them a special taste and aroma.

It is important to note that mature beans require soaking with repeated changes of water before cooking, after which they need to be cooked for about an hour and a half. These precautions are due to the fact that the fruits of lobia contain hydrocyanic acid.

Thus, dolichos will not only give original colors in flower beds and on household plots, but it will also be an excellent addition to the dining table, it will help satisfy hunger, restore strength and increase immunity.

Dolichos (lat. Dolichos) is the oldest liana-like plant from the legume family, presumably from Africa. It has other names: curly lilac, hyacinth or Egyptian beans, and in Georgia it is called lobia. These names ornamental plant associated with lilac-like fragrant flowers, tasty and extremely healthy orange-brown bean fruits. They ripen in showy purple-purple pods in early autumn and persist until frost.

White, yellow or lilac racemes with delicate flowers look spectacular on four-meter curved stems. This impressive picture is complemented by decorative green or purple-purple leaves. In hot countries, this is a perennial crop, but in our climate annual cultivation of dolichos from seeds is practiced. How this is done will be discussed.

Dolichos planting seeds and plant care

Growing a wonderful vine from seeds at home is quite a feasible task, because the undemanding Tropican has long adapted to our climate. The main rules for this: timely planting of seeds, good lighting, nutrient soil, regular watering, and the result will not be slow to affect.

On the roots of dolichos, like others leguminous plants, there are nodules with nitrogen-containing bacteria. They are able to enrich the land in the beds with this microelement.

Seed preparation before planting

Seeds need to be stratified before planting.

Dolichos beans, when properly stored, due to their strong shell, remain viable for up to 7 years. They need to be stored in a dry place at a temperature of 0 ... +25 degrees. Before planting seeds in the ground, their scarification is desirable, i.e. mechanical violation of the hard shell (piercing, processing with a manicure file, etc.) Then the beans are placed in warm water for a day, changing it several times to soften.

When and how to sow dolichos

There are two ways to grow dolichos: plant seeds for seedlings or directly in open ground. It is from the choice of the method of cultivation that the time of planting the beans in the soil depends.

With the seedling method, 55 days are counted from the moment when young shoots can be planted in a permanent place. After all, they can not stand the slightest frost. When planting seeds directly in open ground, take into account the climatic features of the area.

  • In the south, this is the beginning of April, when the earth is loose, wet and well warmed up.
  • In a temperate and harsh climate - a month or two later.

The soil for planting consists of equal parts of sand, crushed humus and peat, loose black soil. It is preliminarily disinfected from possible infection with a fungus by half an hour roasting in the oven at medium temperature. Then pour into cups or seedling pallets and water moderately. After that:

  • close up a pair of beans to a centimeter depth in each container;
  • lightly water them;
  • cover with foil;
  • contain at + 25 ... + 27 degrees in a dark place.

How to grow dolichos seedlings

On the fifth or sixth day, the first shoots appear. Seedling containers are immediately transferred to a well-lit place, otherwise the plants will be weak, vulnerable to disease, or even die.

Dolichos seedlings need hardening

Once a week (as the earth dries up in pots), the seedlings are watered, carefully loosened. After the appearance of two true leaves, which occurs a couple of weeks after the grains are hatched, the stronger one is left of the two sprouts, and the second is removed. The stalk is cut at the very base, trying not to disturb the roots of the seedling next to it.

Grown bushes from the beginning of May should be taken out into the air. So they adapt to natural environment. At this time, it is advisable to start tying them to small supports.

Transplanting seedlings in open ground

Transplanting seedlings to a permanent place is carried out when the soil is well warmed up. It must be careful not to damage the fragile roots of young plants.

Optimal timing

Depending on the climate in the growing region, dolichos bushes are transplanted into open ground in May-June. In areas with unstable spring weather or in late spring, when there are fears that the plants will not have time to go through the full vegetation cycle before the cold weather, the bushes planted in the first decade of June are placed under the film.

Site selection, scheme

Dolichos should be planted in well-lit areas.

Dolichos - thermophilic and light-loving tropical plant, therefore, the best place for it is a well-lit and protected area from cold winds. It feels great on the east side of the building. The best predecessors for decorative fruit vines are cucumbers, cabbage and root crops.

The soil under the vines should be fertile and loose with a neutral reaction. Ordinary garden fertilized with organic matter and well-drained soil is also suitable. It is not desirable in it a high content of nitrogen.

The following seedling planting schemes are used:

  1. Single row - with planting bushes half a meter apart.
  2. Two-row - with a row spacing up to a meter wide and a staggered order of plants in adjacent rows.
  3. Multi-row - with paths between two-row beds 80 cm wide.

After planting the bushes, the site is mulched with sawdust, decorative wood chips, hardwood bark or small pebbles. Mulch should not acidify the soil.

Chipboard sawdust is not suitable for this purpose, they contain varnishes, furniture glue and phenols.

Necessary plant care

Plant care includes regular watering, proper feeding, prevention and control of diseases and pests. Weeding and hilling are also needed.

You need to start caring for the plant two weeks after planting the bushes on the garden bed to strengthen the root system, covering the trunks with a 20-centimeter layer of earth.

Watering

Dolichos planted in a permanent place needs regular watering, but without waterlogging. Rooted plants are watered moderately, twice a week. In dry times, soil moisture increases.

Sometimes the drip method of watering the bushes is practiced. Under each plant, a plastic container from under the mineral water is placed on its side, filled with settled water, with a slightly loosened lid. This volume of liquid is usually enough for a week.

The reason for the decay of the root system can be excessive watering.

Support

Dolichos is a grassy vine, it needs a reliable support. Clinging to her with a mustache, climbing plant rises and expands to the sides. Walls or fences can be used as support. A special support is installed after hilling the bushes. Its possible options are:

  • the trunk of a dry tree growing nearby;
  • metal mesh-netting with wide cells;
  • three-meter wooden pegs;
  • high trellises;
  • wooden lattices of various configurations.

top dressing

For feeding dolichos, it is best to use organic

A month after planting in open ground, dolichos needs top dressing. For this use mineral fertilizers for vegetables, superphosphate. In the future, they need to be repeated twice a month.

The best top dressing for an ornamental crop with edible fruits is organic. The following options are possible:

  1. Half-diluted chicken manure is allowed to ferment for a week in the sun in a bucket with a lid. The resulting concentrate is diluted with water (1:20) and immediately used so that the nitrogen contained in it does not disappear.
  2. The container is filled with equal volumes of garden weeds (preferably nettles) and water, covered with a lid and left to ferment for 2 weeks. To enrich the composition with oxygen, periodically stir it with a wooden pole. The finished feed concentrate is diluted three times.

The use of the plant in cooking and decorative purposes

Dolichos fruits are edible and prepared according to the same recipes as beans.

Dolichos fruits are cooked like beans or beans, they are rich in protein and nutritious. In Georgia, they make one of national dishes- lobio.

Beans soaked for several hours are used for cooking first courses, they are added to vegetables in side dishes. Green pods are marinated, fried, baked, used as a separate side dish or as part of a complex side dish for meat, they are included in salads. Dried beans keep well and for a long time, and boiled beans are frozen or canned.

Ornamental plants adorn high fences, they are widely used for vertical gardening of houses, shady arbors, they decorate garden and park forged or wooden arches, pergolas. With the help of various supports, vines can be given any shape. Old look original fruit trees, which simultaneously grow, for example, apples or pears and lilac pods.

Dolichos looks especially colorful in early autumn. On the bushes, at the same time, you can observe the young greenery of the tops of the shoots, the yellowing lower leaves, tender buds and bright brushes of inflorescences, as well as colored bean pods.

You will get acquainted with the intricacies of planting and growing dolichos by watching a video clip. Happy viewing!

Growing Features

Dolichos is a plant that is quite easy to grow, however, planting and care must be timely and competent. This will be discussed further.

To grow dolichos you need support

Planting in the ground with seeds

The most important thing in growing dolichos is right choice soils: beans are very fond of neutral (never choose acidic soil, otherwise hyacinth beans will slow down their growth, and the plant may not even bloom) very fertile soil. It will be great if the soil is slightly loose. The place should be chosen warm, without access to cold wind and always with access to a large amount of heat and sunlight.

It is quite possible to grow a dolichos liana by propagating from seeds, the main thing is to follow all the rules. Firstly, dolichos seeds, like any other beans, have a rather dense shell, so before planting, soak them in warm water for several hours to soften it a little. Before sowing seeds in the ground, it is better to germinate seedlings at home. It is better to start growing seedlings in early spring, approximately in March.

Advice. To speed up the process of seed germination, you can pierce the bean seeds before placing them in water - this will give them the opportunity to soak up the water faster.

Sprouted seeds are immediately planted in small pots or any other container. Since hyacinth beans are very sensitive to lack of moisture, when growing seedlings, it is necessary to properly water the young shoots.

Before planting seedlings in open ground, it is advisable to “accustom” young seedlings to fresh air. To this end, seedlings that have reached 15 cm in height are periodically put outside for a couple of hours with a gradual extension of her stay there. The place should be chosen only sunny, warm, calm.

When the air warms up enough and stable warm weather sets in (late May - early June), you can start planting in open ground, keeping a sufficient distance between seedlings - about 30-40 cm, the distance between rows should be at least 0.7 m.

Dolichos flowering

Proper care

Caring for hyacinth beans is very simple, it is enough just to carry out regular timely watering and help the plant to reach up with the help of special props. In the initial phase, when the plant is still young and just starting to actively grow, be sure to generously saturate the soil with enough warm (necessarily settled) water regularly. If in summer period excessively hot and dry weather will be established, watering should be daily.

Be sure to set up props next to each plant to help the beans grow and set in the correct growth direction. As for top dressing, dolichos does not need a large amount of fertilizer, it is enough to periodically apply nitrogen fertilizers to the soil, alternating them with potash ones.

Advice. If you are afraid of oversaturating the beans with fertilizers, then you can use complex top dressing for legumes.

Dolichos is highly resistant to almost all diseases and pests. Only sometimes small yellowish spots can be seen on a flowering vine - most often this indicates a lack of potassium, which can be easily corrected by the immediate application of appropriate fertilizers.

Dolichos begins to bloom by mid-summer and until the onset of late autumn. The flowers are collected in inflorescences in the leaf axils. In one inflorescence there can be up to 50 flowers. It is worth noting that the flowers live no more than 3 days, and the entire inflorescence begins to fall off already three weeks after flowering.

Hyacinth beans in landscaping

Hyacinth Bean Applications

Hyacinth beans are used in cooking: they are cooked as a side dish, used as an addition to soups, salads, stews, and even as a separate dish. Dolichos goes well with lamb and seafood dishes.

Advice. If you are a fan of legumes, then try to cook not only the fruits, but also the pods themselves: in the summer, they can be plucked directly from the garden and eaten fresh or added to salads, and frozen for the winter in order to be able to enjoy the wonderful taste of boiled beans on cold snowy evenings.

In addition, dolichos is used as decorative element for decorating summer cottages: it is grown on a balcony, veranda, etc. Hyacinth beans look great in combination with other bright colors. Moreover, to create the desired effect, it is desirable to use bushy and tall flowers as "neighbors".

This is the end of our material. You met an unusual, beautiful and tasty plant called hyacinth beans. As you can see, growing it is quite easy, the main thing is to follow the tips provided in the article. Good luck!

Scarification of hyacinth beans

Like all legumes, the dolichos seed has a dense shell, and in order to speed up the germination of seedlings, they resort to bean scarification (mechanical damage to the seed shell). This method helps seedlings grow much faster than in natural conditions.

There are three types of scarification:

  • Mechanical - the easiest way, most suitable for large seeds. With this method, a special tool is used - a scarifier (a plate with several sharp teeth). With it, the hard shell of the seed is pierced and the beans are placed in a container of warm water for several hours so that they are saturated with moisture.
  • Chemical way. Chemical scarification with sulfuric acid is rare and very careful. Seeds are placed in an enamel bowl with a solution of 3% sulfuric acid and water for at least 12 hours. After that, washed under running water and prepare for landing. Acid should be carefully poured into water, otherwise it will boil and splashes can cause burns.
  • Thermal. This is a way of damaging the seed coat under alternating exposure to high and low temperatures. The seeds are wrapped in cotton cloth and alternately dipped first in boiling water and then in cold water until they increase in size.

Planting hyacinth beans

The main condition for growing a crop is the right choice of soil. It is best to choose fertile soil with neutral acidity.

Important! In no case should beans be planted in acidic soil. This will significantly slow down the growth of the plant and most likely it will not bloom.

cultivation

For sprouting beans, choose a warm place with sufficient access to sunlight without drafts. You can prepare the soil for planting climbing lilacs yourself by mixing the following components in equal proportions:

  • Chernozem;
  • crushed humus;
  • river sand;
  • A mixture of upland and lowland peat.

Seed sowing of hyacinth beans is recommended to start with heat treatment soil. At a temperature of 200 degrees, the soil is heated in an oven for 40 minutes. The treated and disinfected soil is poured into special seedling containers and slightly moistened. Next, 2-3 dolichos seeds are planted in each container to a depth of 1 cm and covered cling film before the appearance of the first shoots.

If scarified seeds of hyacinth beans were used for planting, at a germination temperature of 22-25 degrees, the first shoots appear within a week. When the first sprouts appear, the seedling containers should be rearranged in a place well lit by daylight. Further care consists in moderate watering as the soil dries. Seedlings obtained from seeds should be planted in late May or early June, when the earth is completely warm.

Curly beans are very heat-loving plants. The landing site should be protected from the cold wind and adequately illuminated by the sun's rays. In the first days after planting seedlings, the soil must be thoroughly moistened. In hot weather, watering is carried out daily.

During the flowering period, the plant requires weekly top dressing with superphosphate. This contributes to a more lush blooming of dolichos flowers. Flowering begins in mid-summer and continues until late autumn. The lush flowers of the shrub gather in large inflorescences.

Fact! In one inflorescence, there can be about 50 fragrant flowers of the plant.

Great advantage over others flowering shrubs is the resistance of the plant to various diseases and pests. The only problem that gardeners may face is yellow dots on the leaves, indicating a lack of potassium in the soil. The most common fertilizers will help eliminate it.

Breeding hyacinth beans will not only decorate the summer cottage with lush fragrant flowers, but also bring a lot of aesthetic pleasure!

Among the few climbing plants growing in the middle lane stand out dolichos or hyacinth beans, the cultivation of which always brings a lot of aesthetic pleasure. Moreover, when growing hyacinth beans, you will definitely be pleased with a beautiful and tasty harvest.

The height of the liana of this plant reaches 3-4 meters. The main trump card of dolichos is an unusual decorative effect. Undoubtedly, purple and crimson shades of flowers and fruit-pods attract attention and look advantageous even in the most luxurious garden. Yes, and thick leaves can please both dark green and purple hues.

Hyacinth beans: cultivation

Decide on growing conditions. Initially, dolichos seedlings are needed. For quick germination, each seed should be pierced a little with a needle, then kept in warm water (about a day). Next, the seeds are immersed in one container with soil. In the soil for seedlings, if it is acidic, you can add a little chalk or ash.

Important! When growing seedlings, regular watering is important. It may also require a low support for stretching stems.

The optimum temperature for growing seedlings is 20-22 degrees.

Landing

It is recommended to plant hyacinth beans in the ground when the soil warms up well (at the end of May, beginning of June). The landing site should be sunny, and the soil under dolichos is loose and fertile. It is advisable to plant in a place where cucumbers, cabbage or various root crops grew in the past.

We make holes optimal distance between which - 20 cm. Next, with the utmost care, we transfer the seedlings to the ground. Do not forget that root system dolichosa is very fragile and damage can ruin all growth.

Place a support next to each plant. I recommend buying in advance or making your own several supports for climbing plants. Also, some stems need to independently set the direction of growth, tying with ropes.

Hyacinth beans - enough moisture-loving plant . The main rule when leaving is to water abundantly and regularly, in dry weather you can daily.

Sometimes you need to feed hyacinth beans. For the first time, nitrogen fertilizers are desirable, then potash fertilizers. Or you can use any complex fertilizer for flowers or climbing plants from the first weeks.

An important advantage of hyacinth beans is resistance to various pests and diseases. However, if you notice small yellow spots on the leaves, then this may be a lack of potassium. Feed appropriately immediately.

Dolichos hyacinth beans - flowers

Dolichos pleases with alluring flowering from July until the very frost. Flowers in the form of graceful moths are collected in inflorescences formed in the axils of the leaves. In one inflorescence there can be up to 50 flowers.
By the way, it is interesting that each flower lives only 3 days, then falls off. The inflorescence itself completely falls off after 18-20 days.

Most often dolichos flowers purple or maroon. However, there are yellow and white shades. Believe me, they are wonderful! Moreover, all the flowers have a pleasant, slightly sweet aroma.

The impact of dolichos inflorescences on the human psyche is noteworthy. Pleasant color and aroma uplifting. Daily admiration of flowering enhances the joy of life. And pride in what is grown beautiful decoration plot awakens inspiration. Not surprisingly, the cultivation of hyacinth beans is increasingly attracting the attention of landscapers to decorate garden plots.

Hyacinth beans in landscaping

Like all creepers, dolichos are often decorated with summer cottages, for example, gazebos. Or you can always vertically green the walls of houses by planting them on a balcony, veranda or terrace. This charming plant brings an unprecedented charm to any place.

As you can see, there is room for imagination and inspiration to roam. Moreover, hyacinth beans can be grown in various flower arrangements. Moreover, the higher and bushier the neighboring flowers, the stronger the effect. For example, coreopsis, gaillardia are ideal.

The combination of several liana plants deserves special attention, for example, hyacinth beans and clematis. Select plant varieties that are similar in shade and harmoniously arrange them on supports.

In a word, with dolichos from any site you can make a real masterpiece of landscape art. The main thing is not to be afraid to try and improvise! Yes, and the mood in this matter is a very faithful assistant.

Hyacinth beans: fruits

A few weeks after planting, fruits begin to form on dolichos - beans in bright purple pods.
Inside the pod, there are usually 5-6 plump, rounded beans that are cream or slightly darker in color. When the pods begin to turn yellow and dry out, seeds can be harvested for planting next year.
It is best to dry the beans in the sun and store in a glass container in a dry and dark place. Shelf life - up to 5 years.

In July-August, dolichos fruits can be harvested for eating. They taste like green beans. Therefore, if you like legumes, dolichos will come in handy. Moreover, hyacinth beans are quite useful. Consider the culinary features in more detail.

Hyacinth beans: use in recipes

Hyacinth beans can be cooked on their own or as a side dish. Also, beans are an excellent ingredient in various dishes, such as soups, salads, scrambled eggs, stews. They go very well with seafood and lamb.


Before use, dry hyacinth beans, like ordinary ones, need to be boiled for about 1.5 hours; to reduce the cooking time, they should be soaked in cold water in advance.

During fruiting, add ripened fresh hyacinth beans to vegetable dishes - salads, soups and side dishes. Delicate aroma and sweetish taste will make them more appetizing and add a touch of sophistication. Do not be surprised if your relatives and friends express admiration more than once!

In addition to the beans themselves, the pods can also be used as food. In the summer, you can simply eat them straight from the garden and add them to salads. For the winter, fresh pods can be frozen.

Delikhos: useful properties

Dolichos fruits contain a lot of useful properties- proteins, fats, vitamins, many macro- and microelements. The content of various acids is also noteworthy. Thanks to this composition, beans are very beneficial for health.
They are:

  • quickly compensate for the lack of vitamins and substances in the body;
  • have a restorative and tonic effect;
  • beneficial effect in various liver diseases and diabetes;
  • lowers cholesterol levels.

Hyacinth beans are loved by vegetarians. Since the vegetable protein included in the composition is similar in many qualities to an animal. In addition, beans contribute to rapid satiety.

Hyacinth beans: varieties

The most popular variety of dolichos is " pink moon". The main attractions are the juicy green color of the leaves and bright purple inflorescences. In height reaches up to 4 meters. Growing hyacinth beans of this variety resembles the famous lilac (for which it received the name "curly lilac").

An important advantage of the "Pink Moon" is that the beans hang on the stems for a very long time, until the first snow.

The best variety of dolichos for balconies and verandas - " Lilac cascade». main feature- increased resistance to low temperatures. By the way, breeders have worked a lot with this variety, and it has gained great popularity among gardeners.
"Lilac Cascade" differs from other varieties in greater branching, which adds to its greater attractiveness.

Also noteworthy is the variety purple garlands". The name speaks for itself. And this plant always creates a pleasant holiday atmosphere.
From other varieties, "Purple Garlands" differ in length up to 6 m, a large number of leaves and bright purple flowers. Flowers can and should be cut to decorate the interior. Since it is the "garlands" that can stand in the water much longer than the flowers of other varieties.

As you can see, growing hyacinth beans is a beautiful and very interesting process. Especially if the person who grows them is creative and loves new items on his site.

If you are planning any landscape masterpiece with dolichos, then be guided by the shade of flowers when choosing a variety. The most spectacular compositions are obtained from several bright plants, such as purple and yellow.
Or a real riot of a variety of colors fascinates. You can plant dolichos in a place where various flowers bloom: peonies, dahlias, tulips, and so on.

So, you could make sure that cultivation of hyacinth beans - not bad and very original way decorate your cottage and bring a touch of sophistication and creativity to the site.
Have a charming garden and a rich harvest!

As soon as they do not call Dolichos - Kokornik, Egyptian beans, Curly lilac, Lobio. This herbaceous liana is especially in demand among fans of vertical gardening of garden plots. With the help of Dolichos, you can decorate a gazebo or balcony, fence or veranda, especially since almost all parts of the plant are decorative: it has green leaves with purple veins or purple-violet, shaped like a heart, and pink, white or blue flowers collected in large brushes.

Description of Dolichos

Dolichos belongs to the legume family. Depending on the variety, the plant can grow up to 4 meters.

Large dark green leaves with pronounced purple veins are located on red-violet cuttings. In their configuration, the leaves are similar to the human heart.

Dolichos blooms from early July until frost. At the same time, the flowering period of the brush is 3 weeks, but each flower is only 3 days. One brush contains about 40 or more flowers, shaped like a moth and exuding a light, delicate aroma.

The unusualness of Dolichos also lies in the fact that on the liana you can see both flowers and bean fruits containing seeds. Bobs can be short and long, the maximum length is 5 cm, they have a flat shape with a small elongated spout. Like leaves, flowers of Dolichos, so beans can be different shade- white, green, purple.

Growing Dolichos from seeds at home

In order for Dolichos to please with its flowering for a long time, gardeners recommend growing it using seedlings, especially since the plant came to us from tropical countries, and, therefore, loves warm, comfortable weather.

The most favorable time for sowing seeds at home is the first month of spring, but it will not be too late if the seeds are sown in April.

How to grow seedlings of Dolichos?

The first step is to process the seeds of Dolichos - this will speed up their germination. Seed scarification at home can be done in several ways:

  • process the seeds with a nail file;
  • polish the seeds with sandpaper;
  • pierce the seeds with a needle in several places.

Place the treated seeds for a day in water, which will need to be changed several times. Water should not be cold, it is best that it corresponds to room temperature. Dolichos - growing seedlings at home

Fill seedling boxes or other containers with nutrient mixture. Since Dolichos likes neutral or slightly alkaline soil, chalk or wood ash should be added to the mixture. Seeds are deepened by about 3 cm.

The temperature of the room where the seedlings are located should not be less than + 20 ° C. Watering - moderate, once a week is enough. In the 3-leaf phase, the top of the seedlings is pinched off. This will further give splendor to the bush.

When warm days are established, seedlings should be taken out to fresh air for hardening. Since the seedling grows very quickly, already at an early stage of its development, it becomes necessary to make small supports.

Planting seedlings of Dolichos in open ground

Dolichos seedlings are planted in a permanent place only when warm days and nights come. For the middle lane - this is the end of May, the beginning of June.

The place must be necessarily illuminated, the soil - fertile, loose. For each seedling of Dolichos, a hole is made, which must correspond to its root system. Since it is very fragile, transplanting must be carried out very carefully, preferably with a clod of earth. The distance between seedlings should not be less than 40 cm.

Immediately next to the planted plant, it is necessary to establish a support. You can make it yourself or buy it in a store, especially since the range of original supports is increasing every year. As the plant grows and develops, young shoots are tied to the support.

Dolichos care

Caring for Dolichos will not take much time. The main thing is to water it in a timely manner, and water it abundantly. If the weather is dry, very hot, then it is best to water daily, and so that the moisture does not evaporate quickly, it is advisable to mulch the soil. Do not forget to weed weeds, which are a significant competitor to Dolichos.

In order for the plant to bloom profusely, it must be fed once every 15 days. The best way- alternating top dressing with potash and nitrogen fertilizers. You can also use complex fertilizer. The plant itself will tell you that it needs to be fed: yellow specks appear on the leaves - nitrogen is urgently needed.

Unlike many herbaceous vines, Dolichos is not subject to any fungal diseases. Harmful insects They don't show much sympathy for him either.

In addition to the fact that Dolichos is an excellent decoration for a garden plot, the plant is also very useful. It is believed that the fruits of Dolichos contain various nutrients. They are recommended for use in liver disease, reduced immunity, as well as diabetes.

At their dacha, once upon a time they built a gazebo not far from the fence. A few years later, they decided to decorate with some kind of climbing plant, but it took a long time to choose the original one. And so, having gone to visit friends, we realized what we needed.

Extraordinary beauty hedge with lilac flowers, one might say, won the hearts - dolichos flaunted in front of us. They even gave us seeds and taught us how to grow, choose the right planting site and told us about the features of care.

This plant is also called the Hyacinth Bean. This climbing shrub came to us from Africa and belongs to the legume family. Now it is common in Asia and Eurasia. In areas with moderate frost or warm winters can be grown as a perennial plant, in Russia, its European part, mostly annual.

Perfectly decorates any outbuildings, fences (chain-link mesh), arbors, decorative arches. A strong climbing vine with delicate flowers of pink-violet and pale lilac flowers and shiny purple pods looks spectacular.

Dolichos grows up to 6 meters. From it you can form quite interesting compositions, against which any decorative garden flowers coexist perfectly. It is used for a vertical way of gardening of facades.

The fruits of dolichos - "black beans" are eaten, they prepare nutritious, tasty and healthy dishes. They are also used for medicinal purposes.

general characteristics

  1. The climbing plant has a branched rhizome with processes similar to cords with seals. The stems are weakly branched and covered with red-brown bark. There are no tendrils on the shoots, and they wrap around the support in a circle counterclockwise.
  2. Petiolate leathery and rough foliage is located along the entire length of the shoot. The color is dark green. Sometimes purple stripes are located in the middle of the sheet.
  3. The flowering of curly lilac begins in mid-summer. The racemes have many flowers and bloom on the apical shoots in the axils or at the ends of the stems.
  4. Buds 35 - 40 pieces and they are quite large in size. The flowers are delicate and sweet fragrance. Each of the brushes actively blooms up to 3 weeks. Then it is replaced by another inflorescence of dolichos, and thus, until the first cold weather, the plant pleases with beautiful pink, white and purple moth flowers.
  5. When pollination ends, fruits are tied - flat burgundy pods up to 6 cm long. The beans are very original: black, beige or cream with white edging around the edges.

The main varieties of delihos

In southern countries and subtropical climates, more than 70 species are distinguished. In Russia, there is only one so far - ordinary dolichos. And the second name curly lilac was given by the lilac - burgundy shade of flowers. Although dolichos has nothing to do with the lilac itself. Several popular varieties have been created from ordinary dolichos.

purple garland

The branches stretch up to 4 meters in height, are strewn with beautiful flowers and then burgundy pods with elongated spouts appear. This variety is suitable for flower arrangements, because it is not only beautiful, but it can also stay fresh for a long time and not wither.

Lilac cascade

The plant is an annual. Unlike other varieties, it branches strongly; up to 30 shoots can be located on one delihos of this variety. The cap of the bush is approximately 1 meter in diameter, the branches stretch up to 5 meters in height.

This variety has fewer flowers and fruits, but it is more frost-resistant and tolerates winds well. Due to the fluffy crown and dense leaf, it is very suitable for decorating arbors and verandas, creating an openwork bright wall of greenery and flowers.

Pink (ruby) moon

The plant is an annual. It has a strong structure of shoots, very similar to the branches of the classical common lilac. The leaves are also heart-shaped and dark green in color. The brushes are elongated, lilac saturated shade.

Pods with beans stay on the branches until late autumn and look quite original and colorful.

The bush perfectly tolerates dry hot weather, remains fresh for a long time, does not fade and has a pleasant aroma.

Dolichos - propagation by seeds

By cutting and dividing the bush, this plant rarely reproduces, because you have to spend a lot of effort and cultivate this shrub for more than one year. The most common way is only by seeds.

If you plant beans immediately in open ground, then this should be done in May. But then the plant blooms late - in August, and the fruits appear in September, and then in small quantities. Beans ripen poorly and this threatens to lose seeds for the next planting.

Therefore, it is best to do seedlings. For this, the strongest and most developed pods are taken, if dolichos has been growing for several years. Beans are taken out, which can be used for planting even four years old, and dried for at least 3-4 days so that rotting does not occur.

Preparing seeds for planting

This process requires some consistency. It is necessary to make an incision in the top layer of the bean so that moisture evenly and quickly penetrates into the embryo. This process is called stratification. This is done in the following ways:

  • The seed is pierced with a needle in several places.
  • With a sharp nail file or knife, a neat incision is made along the perimeter of the white strip.
  • rub with a leaf sandpaper the top layer of the seed.

Then the seeds need to be put in water for a day. Some flower growers use potato juice instead of water. Fluid is recommended to be changed regularly. To avoid acidification, seedlings should be stored in a cool place.

Put wet beans on a chopped piece of moss, cover tightly with a thin cloth so that air does not get in. Then wrap it in a plastic bag and put it in a warm place for several days. Somewhere on the third day, a sprout appears from the seed. Can be planted.

Transplanting

  1. Prepare soil containers. It can be peat pots, plastic cups.
  2. The soil should be a mixture of sheet soil, 2 identical parts of sand and peat. To improve the composition, add a little wood ash and chalk (1 tablespoon per 2 kg of soil). Make drainage at the bottom.
  3. Plant the seed no deeper than 3 cm and at a distance of at least 4-5 cm from each other.
  4. Store the pots in a warm place; you can not put them on the windowsill yet. On the contrary, it is better to keep in a closet, but often ventilate. The temperature should be at least +20 degrees.
  5. When 3 leaves form on the shoot, you need to pinch the top so that the plant is lush later.
  6. After a month or a half, the seedlings need to be taken out into the air for "hardening". Suitable veranda, terrace or balcony.
  7. If it is still cold at night, then you should bring it to a warm place. If it is too hot, then do not keep the seedlings outdoors for too long. It can begin to actively grow up, and the roots have not yet grown stronger. Water 2 times a week.

Landing in the ground

  1. It is necessary to make sure that frosts are no longer expected at night. Then just plant the sprouts in open soil. Since delichos is a southern and heat-loving shrub, the place where your dolichos will grow should be chosen sunny, without drafts and winds. The structure of the soil is loose, nutritious. Egyptian bean sprouts should be planted at a distance of half a meter from each other.
  2. Transplant plants carefully, along with an earthy clod, because delihos has a very thin and delicate root system. If it is accidentally damaged, the plant may slow down growth or die altogether.
  3. Be sure to make a support so that the dolichos stretches upwards, and does not creep along the ground or entangle the surrounding plants.

Video to familiarize yourself with the rules for planting seeds:

How to care for hyacinth beans

Since dolichos is a southern handsome man and loves heat, the optimum temperature should be at least +20 - 30 degrees. The soil is welcome medium acidity or neutral. It should be remembered that the plant does not tolerate fresh manure and a high percentage of nitrogen.

You can water often and little by little - 2 - 3 times a week is enough at a moderate temperature, with strong heat you can do it more often. But stagnation of moisture in the roots should not be allowed. Roots must breathe and receive required amount oxygen, so the soil is regularly loosened and freed from weeds.

Once every 12 - 14 days young plant especially in need of additional nutrition. Good means are containing phosphorus. Fertilizer is diluted with water.

Subsequently, the support must be at least 2 meters in order for dolichos to develop branches. It is advisable to pinch for the subsequent splendor of the bush.

Disease resistance in climbing lilacs is good, but if the thickets are too dense, then powdery mildew can start or yellowish spots appear on the leaves, which indicate a lack of potassium. Also, pests sometimes overcome - aphids, caterpillars. In this case, the plant must be treated with a chemical agent.

In order for dolichos to bloom and multiply normally, you do not need to plant it in places where there is shade. On the contrary, only the sun and air will create a favorable atmosphere for the proper growth of this shrub.

Dolichos liana is a climbing perennial of the legume family. Its other names are Egyptian beans, kokornik, curly lilac.

This plant comes from subtropical places. East Africa. In regions with warm winters, dolichos grows for several years, but in Russia it is more often cultivated as an annual crop.

Dolichos begins to bloom around mid-July. Long racemes with many flowers appear from long shoots. The flower is characteristic of all leguminous plants with a pleasant delicate aroma.

Since dolichos is an ornamental climbing plant, its height reaches up to 3-4 meters, but sometimes there are instances of 10 meters in height.

Description of dolichos

Dolichos is a legume and is considered one of the most cultivated. This unusual plant is able to develop in any climatic conditions. Grows equally well in wet and dry places.

In natural wild conditions, dolichos grows in eastern Africa, India, the foothills of Kilimanjaro and has up to seventy species. In cultural breeding, dolichos ordinary is most popular, another name for which is “curly lilac”.

Purple dolichos (Lablab purpureus) is an annual climbing ornamental plant. Often referred to as "hyacinth" or "Egyptian" beans.

In cultural cultivation, the vine reaches up to 3-4 meters in height.

Dolichos curls very unusually, its shoots braid the support in a counterclockwise direction.

The plant has large, long, heart-shaped leaves, characteristic of beans and beans. Their color is quite diverse: you can find plants with green, purple or red-violet color.

The flowers of this species are white, pink, blue, purple, crimson and even bicolor. Interestingly, many Asian countries dolichos are bred as vegetable crops.

He came to Russia exclusively as a decorative culture.

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Another name for common dolichos is lablab (Dolichos lablab). In Russia Western Europe This perennial climbing herb is only grown as an annual ornamental deciduous plant.

Dolichos needs a warm and good bright place. If these conditions are not present, then it grows slowly, fades and blooms later, or does not bloom at all.

Liana lablaba grows up to 5 meters, branches well, has purple and green leaves.

The inflorescence is racemose, on which there are up to forty flowers. Each brush can grow up to 50 centimeters, and the flowers are shaped like wisteria flowers.

Large creamy, pink, sometimes white lablab flowers are odorless. The plant blooms in July and sometimes until the first frost.

The duration of flowering of each inflorescence is approximately 3 weeks.

Dolichos fruits are beans with several seeds inside Brown. Peas can be stored for up to 6 years, after which their germination capacity decreases. It is highly likely that after this period the seeds may not sprout.

The use of dolichos in medicine began in ancient times, and Dr. Jeans began to use the plant as a homeopathic remedy in 1851. Dolichos is used in homeopathy for body itching, soothes pain in children during teething.

ruby moon

The ruby ​​moon variety is the most attractive and popular of all dolichos varieties. This variety has juicy green leaves combined with bright purple buds.

Saturated dolichos beans purple hue, are perfectly preserved until late autumn and can look gorgeous against the backdrop of fallen snow.

Among all varieties, Pink Moon is distinguished by long flowering.

The use of climbing lilac

Purpose of curly lilac - decorative ornament garden or yard.

A rather picturesque liana can be suitable for landscaping or decorating arbors in the country, pergolas, as well as for creating green arches.

Curly lilac with unusually colored foliage and flowers in a bright color scheme will create an unforgettable decorative effect.

Dolichos flower delights decorative look the whole season. The period of rapid growth of shoots is replaced by violent flowering. Pods of an unusual color look fantastic against the background of yellowing leaves. Not every annual liana is capable of such rapid metamorphoses.

Dolichos is ideal for vertical gardening. The flower of the plant is perfect for decorating arbors, open balconies, house walls and fences.

Dolichos, as a young plant, can be planted with several undeveloped or mature vines.

In this neighborhood, it is advisable to grow hyacinth beans with an unusual leaf color.

Cultivation and care

Caring for dolichos is quite simple. The plant prefers open sunny areas. The air temperature for the creeper is +20, +30 degrees. The soil must be fertile and loose. Before planting, it should be dug up and a small amount of humus should be added.

Dolichos care

Liana dolichos is a moisture-loving plant, so it needs to be abundantly moistened 2-3 times a week. In extreme heat, the plant requires additional watering.

During the period of violent flowering, the liana must be fed with mineral complexes with a high percentage of phosphate fertilizers. Dolichos should be fertilized no more than twice a month.

Since this is a climbing plant, you should find a support about 2 meters high. For the appearance of lateral processes, the plant must be pinched.

The culture is planted with seeds. Other types of propagation, for example, layering or cuttings, are real only when perennial cultivation however, this requires a lot of effort and time. You need to plant seeds at the beginning of the season, preferably in May, on well-warmed soil.

But still, seedlings develop slowly, and as a result, dolichos blooms later and not for long, in August. Therefore, it is better to sow the seeds for seedlings.

A vine grown from seedlings grows faster and blooms on time, and caring for dolichos in the future will not be difficult.

Reproduction of climbing lilac

The easiest way to grow climbing lilacs is by planting seeds. But such seedlings bloom later and do not bloom for long. In order to avoid such difficulties, it is better to pre-grow seeds for seedlings.

To do this, the peas are first soaked for a day, then planted in peat pots. Seeds are placed in the soil 2-3 centimeters at a distance of 4-5 centimeters from each other. The temperature where the seedlings are located should be above 20 degrees.

While waiting for seedlings, the pots moisturize well.

In early - mid-May, dolichos is transplanted into beds along with clods of earth, without damaging the roots, at a distance of 20-40 centimeters. In advance, you should prepare the supports along which the vine will begin to curl.

Dolichos growing from seeds

In order to grow dolichos from seeds, everything must be done consistently.

Growing dolichos from seeds is easier than seedlings, but then the vine will bloom later than usual, in August, and its flowering will not last long. From seedlings, dolichos will bloom in due time.

It is necessary to plant seedlings in open soil together with an earthen clod, otherwise seedlings with damaged roots will not grow normally.

More interesting articles

Dolichos seeds should be planted for seedlings in February or early March, so that in May, when the earth becomes warm enough, plant seedlings in open ground.

Pests and diseases

Hyacinth beans are generally immune to diseases and pests. However, with a lack of potassium, the leaves turn yellow, and therefore the plants need to be fed.

Grown without additional mineral nutrition, dolichos will not grow as expected and will become dull.

Also on the vines you can see aphids, caterpillars or root nematodes.

Growing dolichos, although it does not require much effort, is still necessary to monitor it and provide timely assistance in growth and development.

Source: http://rostok.info/sad-i-ogorod/cvety-i-rasteniya/dolixos-liany.html

How to Grow Ornamental Dolichos or Curly Lilacs with Edible Beans

Dolichos (lat. Dolichos) is the oldest liana-like plant from the legume family, presumably from Africa. It has other names: curly lilac, hyacinth or Egyptian beans, and in Georgia it is called lobia.

These ornamental plant names are associated with lilac-like fragrant flowers, tasty and extremely healthy orange-brown bean fruits.

They ripen in showy purple-purple pods in early autumn and persist until frost.

White, yellow or lilac racemes with delicate flowers look spectacular on four-meter curved stems.

This impressive picture is complemented by decorative green or purple-purple leaves.

In hot countries, this is a perennial crop, but in our climate annual cultivation of dolichos from seeds is practiced. How this is done will be discussed.

Dolichos planting seeds and plant care

Growing a wonderful vine from seeds at home is quite a feasible task, because the undemanding Tropican has long adapted to our climate. The main rules for this: timely planting of seeds, good lighting, nutritious soil, regular watering, and the result will not be slow to affect.

On the roots of dolichos, like other legumes, there are nodules with nitrogen-containing bacteria. They are able to enrich the land in the beds with this microelement.

Seed preparation before planting

Seeds need to be stratified before planting.

Dolichos beans, when properly stored, due to their strong shell, remain viable for up to 7 years. They need to be stored in a dry place at a temperature of 0 ... +25 degrees.

Before planting seeds in the ground, their scarification is desirable, i.e. mechanical violation of the hard shell (piercing, processing with a manicure file, etc.

) Then the beans are placed in warm water for a day, changing it several times to soften.

When and how to sow dolichos

There are two ways to grow dolichos: plant seeds for seedlings or directly in open ground. It is from the choice of the method of cultivation that the time of planting the beans in the soil depends.

With the seedling method, 55 days are counted from the moment when young shoots can be planted in a permanent place. After all, they can not stand the slightest frost. When planting seeds directly in open ground, take into account the climatic features of the area.

  • In the south, this is the beginning of April, when the earth is loose, wet and well warmed up.
  • In a temperate and harsh climate - a month or two later.

The soil for planting consists of equal parts of sand, crushed humus and peat, loose black soil.

It is preliminarily disinfected from possible infection with a fungus by half an hour roasting in the oven at medium temperature.

Then pour into cups or seedling pallets and water moderately. After that:

  • close up a pair of beans to a centimeter depth in each container;
  • lightly water them;
  • cover with foil;
  • contain at + 25 ... + 27 degrees in a dark place.

How to grow dolichos seedlings

On the fifth or sixth day, the first shoots appear. Seedling containers are immediately transferred to a well-lit place, otherwise the plants will be weak, vulnerable to disease, or even die.

Dolichos seedlings need hardening

Once a week (as the earth dries up in pots), the seedlings are watered, carefully loosened.

After the appearance of two true leaves, which occurs a couple of weeks after the grains are hatched, the stronger one is left of the two sprouts, and the second is removed.

The stalk is cut at the very base, trying not to disturb the roots of the seedling next to it.

Grown bushes from the beginning of May should be taken out into the air. This is how they adapt to their natural environment. At this time, it is advisable to start tying them to small supports.

Transplanting seedlings in open ground

Transplanting seedlings to a permanent place is carried out when the soil is well warmed up. It must be careful not to damage the fragile roots of young plants.

Optimal timing

Depending on the climate in the growing region, dolichos bushes are transplanted into open ground in May-June.

In areas with unstable spring weather or in late spring, when there are fears that the plants will not have time to go through the full vegetation cycle before the cold weather, the bushes planted in the first decade of June are placed under the film.

Site selection, scheme

Dolichos should be planted in well-lit areas.

Dolichos is a heat-loving and light-loving tropical plant, so the best place for it is a well-lit and protected area from cold winds.

It feels great on the east side of the building. The best predecessors for decorative fruit vines are cucumbers, cabbage and root crops.

The soil under the vines should be fertile and loose with a neutral reaction. Ordinary garden fertilized with organic matter and well-drained soil is also suitable. It is not desirable in it a high content of nitrogen.

The following seedling planting schemes are used:

  1. Single row - with planting bushes half a meter apart.
  2. Two-row - with a row spacing up to a meter wide and a staggered order of plants in adjacent rows.
  3. Multi-row - with paths between two-row beds 80 cm wide.

After planting the bushes, the site is mulched with sawdust, decorative wood chips, hardwood bark or small pebbles. Mulch should not acidify the soil.

Chipboard sawdust is not suitable for this purpose, they contain varnishes, furniture glue and phenols.

Necessary plant care

Plant care includes regular watering, proper feeding, prevention and control of diseases and pests. Weeding and hilling are also needed.

You need to start caring for the plant two weeks after planting the bushes on the garden bed to strengthen the root system, covering the trunks with a 20-centimeter layer of earth.

Watering

Dolichos planted in a permanent place needs regular watering, but without waterlogging. Rooted plants are watered moderately, twice a week. In dry times, soil moisture increases.

Sometimes the drip method of watering the bushes is practiced. Under each plant, a plastic container from under the mineral water is placed on its side, filled with settled water, with a slightly loosened lid. This volume of liquid is usually enough for a week.

The reason for the decay of the root system can be excessive watering.

Support

Dolichos is a grassy vine, it needs a reliable support. Clinging to it with tendrils, the climbing plant rises up and grows to the sides. Walls or fences can be used as support. A special support is installed after hilling the bushes. Its possible options are:

  • the trunk of a dry tree growing nearby;
  • metal mesh-netting with wide cells;
  • three-meter wooden pegs;
  • high trellises;
  • wooden lattices of various configurations.

top dressing

For feeding dolichos, it is best to use organic

A month after planting in open ground, dolichos needs top dressing. To do this, use mineral fertilizers for vegetables, superphosphate. In the future, they need to be repeated twice a month.

The best top dressing for an ornamental crop with edible fruits is organic. The following options are possible:

  1. Half-diluted chicken manure is allowed to ferment for a week in the sun in a bucket with a lid. The resulting concentrate is diluted with water (1:20) and immediately used so that the nitrogen contained in it does not disappear.
  2. The container is filled with equal volumes of garden weeds (preferably nettles) and water, covered with a lid and left to ferment for 2 weeks. To enrich the composition with oxygen, periodically stir it with a wooden pole. The finished feed concentrate is diluted three times.

When and how it blooms

Dolichos blooms from July until frost.

Each flower lives for three days, and the brush lasts for 3 weeks, exuding a delicate aroma.

The inflorescence can have up to 40 white, pink, crimson purple or yellow flowers, similar to moths. Two-color varieties have also been bred.

In the South American tropics, ten-meter climbers are often found buried in greenery, blooming almost all year round, creeper houses and giant trees.

The use of the plant in cooking and decorative purposes

Dolichos fruits are edible and prepared according to the same recipes as beans.

Dolichos fruits are cooked like beans or beans, they are rich in protein and nutritious. In Georgia, they make one of the national dishes - lobio.

Beans soaked for several hours are used for cooking first courses, they are added to vegetables in side dishes.

Green pods are marinated, fried, baked, used as a separate side dish or as part of a complex side dish for meat, they are included in salads.

Dried beans keep well and for a long time, and boiled beans are frozen or canned.

Ornamental plants adorn high fences, they are widely used for vertical gardening of houses, shady arbors, they decorate garden and park forged or wooden arches, pergolas.

With the help of various supports, vines can be given any shape. Old fruit trees look original, on which, for example, apples or pears and lilac pods grow at the same time.

Dolichos looks especially colorful in early autumn. On the bushes, at the same time, you can observe the young greenery of the tops of the shoots, the yellowing lower leaves, tender buds and bright brushes of inflorescences, as well as colored bean pods.

You will get acquainted with the intricacies of planting and growing dolichos by watching a video clip. Happy viewing!

Source: http://cveti-rasteniya.ru/dolihos-viraschivanie-iz-semyan.html

Dolichos growing from seed

Dolichos growing from seeds, creepers. In a different way, hyacinth or Egyptian beans, lablab, lobia, curly lilac.

The oldest species known to man. For many decades, it has been added to food; each nation has a plant with its own name.

Distributed in different places with a warm climate.

In Russia, it is grown as an annual ornamental climbing plant. In warm countries, it grows for more than one year.

Our specialists failed to achieve long-term growth, despite the fact that experiments and attempts were made in this direction. Dolichos can be from 1.5 to 3 meters in height.

If there is a support, then it wraps around it tightly. Interestingly, he does it counterclockwise.

In specialized places of sale of dolichos seeds - curly lilac. As the name suggests, they are similar.

The plant about which in question from the legume family. You can plant for the household or for decorative purposes.

A grassy liana, if cared for from the very beginning, will be of excellent beauty.

In practice, it is obtained from seeds, with consistent care and proper fit creepers will be tall and strong. To make the result worth the candle, it is important to know about the stages of development. In total there are about fifty species.

Description of dolichos

Hyacinth beans, the so-called plant due to its decorative properties. The fruits appear after the end of the flowering period. They look like wide flattened pods. May have a rich purple hue.

The leaves are large, heart-shaped, similar to legumes or beans. Can be:

  • green;
  • purple;
  • red-violet.

Flowers are collected in inflorescences. The presence of a large number of them on this brush looks harmonious and mesmerizing. Outwardly, not only flowers are aesthetically pleasing, but also the unusually curved shape of the fruit attracts.

In shape, dolichos flowers are similar to beans, but the first brush has more. Each species has a different color, have a pleasant aroma. The life cycle of a flower is only three days.

The flowering period starts from July until the onset of cold weather. Dolichos flowers can be cut. Flowering ends, dark purple beans appear, resembling grapes from a distance.

Important: In order for dolichos to be used for decorative purposes, you must buy only fresh seeds.

For successful cultivation it is important to buy correctly planting material. In order for dolichos to decorate the garden, cultivation is carried out from seeds.

They are sold in small packs, as a rule, there are 3-4 of them in it. First-born pods are suitable for sowing.

From late seeds grow tall, but not flowering bushes.

Dolichos photo

Dolichos growing from seeds

To plant a plant, it is necessary to carry out actions in correct sequence. First of all, after buying seeds, they need to be prepared, i.e. make seedlings.

It is planted at the beginning of the season, when the soil is already warm enough. But this must be done very carefully, because if they are damaged, the plant will no longer be fully as we would like, that is, with a damaged root system, the vine is not able to fully reveal its beauty.

Dolichos is thermophilic, and it needs a lot of light, so landing should be done in sunny places. If you plant it near a building, then its eastern side would be the best option.

In the shade, the plant will develop poorly and may not achieve the desired effect. Only the sun will wash the flower to grow most fully and beautifully. If they sit down to harvest, then the most good places on the site will be after the vegetables.

When to plant seeds? The best time to do this is in February or March. Each hole should be 20 centimeters apart. Seeds must be soaked overnight before planting.

The first shoots appear on the eighth or tenth day. After all four leaves have appeared, the tops of the seedlings are pinched. As a result, they grow side shoots forming a carpet.

You can sow the seeds in cups and, with the onset of heat, transplant into the ground. Or wait for stable favorable weather and land immediately in the ground on the site. The main thing is that the soil should be warm by this time.

Where to file the seeds

To speed up the germination process, pre-treatment is required. There are several ways to stratify:

  1. Processing with a nail file or knife.
  2. Sanding with fine sandpaper.
  3. Make a puncture on the seed with a needle.

This is done to break the waterproofness of the shell. After the treatment is completed, the seeds are placed in warm water for twenty-four hours. It is recommended to change it several times during this time. Some people use potato juice instead of water for several hours.

Then the seeds are placed on a small moss, covered with a napkin, pressed and moved into the heat. After three days, they will have small roots. They can easily be rooted in the prepared substrate.

In pots, boxes or other containers (peat pots are also suitable for these purposes), in which seeds will be planted, small amounts of chalk and wood ash should be added to the substrate.

This plant thrives in neutral, slightly alkaline soil. Seeds should be planted to a depth of three centimeters.

In a room with seedlings, a temperature above twenty degrees is maintained. Watering seedlings is required to be done once a week, more often if necessary.

Grown seedlings in May can be kept on the balcony if it is glazed. As severe frosts dolichos does not tolerate. This is done to adapt the bushes to real weather conditions. As a rule, small supports are required even at the stage of growing seedlings.

Important: Gardeners should remember that dolichos is unstable to severe frosts.

Dolichos care

Dolichos loves abundant watering, so it is advisable to do it every day. And in the heat it is recommended several times.

For a good result, the plant must receive sunlight. This plant gives an excellent harvest and at the same time decorates the site.

Beans are very useful, they are used as independent dishes and in side dishes.

If the seedlings have grown, they must be carefully transferred without damaging the roots and planted at a distance of half a meter. Next to each bush, it is imperative that there is a support, the stems are tied to them with thick threads. This is done to form the correct growth.

For this, moist, loose, nutritious soil is suitable. However, the flower can also grow in ordinary soil with the addition of dressings. The plant is unable to grow acidic soil. Liana is not demanding in care, but in drought, abundant watering is important.

Alternating potash and nitrogenous fertilizers is suitable for feeding dolichos, and the use of complex fertilizers is also suitable. During the growing season, this should be done once every fourteen days.

Potential Growing Problems

If small yellowish spots began to appear on the leaves, it means a lack of potassium, but not like the fact that there are damages on the vine or the bush is more.

Dolichos is very resistant to various diseases and pests. This is another advantage, because of which many gardeners prefer this plant.

May sometimes be affected powdery mildew, as well as suffer from aphids and caterpillars, as well as root knot nematodes. They are not difficult to deal with when using the spraying method with special preparations. You can buy them in stores for gardeners (summer residents).

How to collect seeds

Two weeks after planting the seedlings, fruits begin to appear on the site. If you plan to continue growing vines (hyacinth beans), then it is better to collect them and leave them for seeds. The pods are burgundy in color, each should have five or six pieces, cream in color.

You can start harvesting when the stems begin to dry out. The storage time of the beans is five years. This is another advantage of this plant.

The pods are removed from the vines and dried for two to three weeks.

Only then are the beans taken out, best quality stored until spring in well-closed glass containers.

Since there may be unripe ones in the store in packages, which will lead to poor flowering, despite good strength growth.

Known varieties

First of all, flower growers distinguish the most outstanding varieties. None of them require complex care and special conditions for growth. To select the appropriate species, the most attractive dolichos will be described below.

« pink moon"- this is exactly the variety that, in its appearance, is very similar to lilac.

The leaves have a bright saturated in green and the flowers are vibrant purple. The height of the stems of this plant can be up to four meters. It has received the most distribution.

A special advantage of this variety is that they are able to hang until the snow.

« Lilac cascade»Grows well even in the city, on the balcony. They are quite cold resistant. This variety goes more as an ornamental, rather than a fruitful one. Valued for good branching. Great for balconies and verandas.

« purple garlands» attracted by the height of the stems. They can reach six meters.

The variety is distinguished by huge leaves and bright purple flowers that resemble garlands in shape. Therefore, this dolichos received such a name. Flowers give a sense of celebration.

They can be cut to decorate the interior inside the house; this variety can stand in water for a long time.

Important: Regardless of the species, dolichos is sensitive to lack of moisture, especially in the first month of growth.

Dolichos in landscaping

Dolichos will perfectly decorate any garden. It can be successfully used in vertical gardening. Good for fences and hedges.

Perfectly closes all unattractive walls outbuildings. Previously, it could be seen mainly in the plots, but now it has become often practiced growing on the balcony and even in the rooms.

Important: If dolichos does not have enough light and heat, it develops slowly and weakly. And may not have time to bloom.

As already mentioned, this unusual beautiful plant that came from ancient times. His creepers are so picturesque that they are used for gardening the walls of houses, arbors, fences.

With their help, beautiful partitions, pergolas are created. Originally colored foliage and vibrant fruits make for a stunning display anywhere.

You can also emphasize its beauty by planting contrasting flowers nearby.

Some for unusual exterior use several varieties at once. This will not only add beauty to the facade, but will also bring the owner a harvest with excellent taste and benefits.

Dolichos in landscape design

The process of growing a flower is fascinating. Especially if it is done for creative purposes. With it, you can give novelty to the site.

To create a landscape masterpiece, you should pay attention to the shades of colors. Compositions with different shades will look more original.

For the play of colors, dolichos, you need to plant next to flowering plants.

Dolichos can be annual and perennial plant. Seedlings from it can be used for a long time. From fruits you can create delicious and unusual dishes. With minimal care, the result is amazing.

Dolichos rare plant that deserves to get wide use. There are plenty of photos on the net showing how beautiful it is.

Delichos growing from seeds and caring for it requires minimal effort.

In return, its owner receives a well-groomed and creative garden that stands out from others and pleases for a long time.

Lianas of dolichos tending upwards fascinate the eye. In many ways, personal imagination and a desire to work depend on the type of site. From several seeds, whole thickets can form. In the second half of summer at the same time on the vines you can see an attractive combination of beans with flowers.

Although this plant is not demanding in care, you need to follow it correctly. For our country, this is a relatively new culture, which is worth a closer look.

The use of dolichos in cooking

Dolichos is not only an unusually attractive vine. It is also an ancient food culture. It is quite widespread and is especially in demand in Indian cuisine. Beans have a rich herbal flavor and contain a balanced amount of protein.

Mature dry fruits and fresh green pods are used for food. The second option is much softer, and the taste is softer and more refined. The taste of beans is similar to beans. You can read more about its taste properties on numerous culinary sites.

It can be a main dish or as part of side dishes, salads, soups. It tastes great when paired with ginger and coconut. As a seasoning for meat dishes, green beans and unripe seeds are added. It goes well with spices, rice, vegetables, seafood.

In European cuisine, the product is rarely used. This was influenced by two main factors.

The fruits of dolichos are cooked for a long time, and there are also substances in the composition that can be converted into hydrocyanic acid in the human body.

Because of this, the beans have to be soaked for a long time, periodically changing the water, and then boiled for at least an hour and a half. On the Internet you can find video recipes.

Beans perfectly replenish the spent forces and renew human energy. They enrich the body with vitamins, and reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood. Dolichos beans are useful for people with diabetes, with liver diseases and with reduced immunity.

Since it contains a protein similar in structure to an animal. In plants, protein is considered detrimental, but not in this case. These beans can be frozen, experts have proven, this only increases their benefits.

Please note: Beans must be soaked before eating.

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