Am I Taking Good Care Of My Purple Hyacinth Bean?

Did you planted your purple hyacinth bean in full sun?

Did you planted your purple hyacinth bean in well-drained soil, rich in organic matter?

Are you making sure that the soil is kept consistently and evenly moist, but never soggy or flooded?

Do you feed your purple hyacinth bean throughout the summer with a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen?

Are you aware that the plant is toxic if you plan on consuming it?

Do you keep your purple hyacinth bean free of pests and diseases?

For the best flowering, choose a site that gets full sun. Purple hyacinth beans will grow in partial shade, but along with fewer blooms, you will also have the risk of fungal diseases.

Purple hyacinth beans don't need overly rich soil, but working some organic matter into the soil before planting will give them a good start. Choose a well-draining site. Although they need regular water, their roots will rot in overly wet soil. A neutral soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8 is best.

This plant likes lots of water, but the soil should be moist, not wet. Consistent watering of about an inch per week during non-rainy weather is the best way to maintain your purple hyacinth bean plant.

Purple hyacinth bean plants need extra food every four to five weeks, throughout the summer. Start with rich soil and give them a monthly dose of a balanced fertilizer, preferably something low in nitrogen and high in phosphorous to encourage blooming. If the vines have few or no flowers, it could be that they are not getting enough sun or they are getting too much nitrogen. Make sure whatever fertilizer you use has a low first number (5-10-10) and avoid nitrogen supplements like fish emulsion or soy meal.

Immature, tender pods can be cooked, like green beans. Uncooked seeds are poisonous, with toxic levels of cyanogenic glucosides. They can cause vomiting, breathing problems, and convulsions. The shelled, dried seed beans must be thoroughly cooked, changing the water twice, before eating.

Good job! You are taking good care of your purple hyacinth bean.

Purple hyacinth bean is seldom bothered by disease or pests. Butterflies may lay their eggs on the leaves and the caterpillars will eat them, but only for a short period. And when they're done, you'll get more butterflies. Beware of overwatering to avoid root rot.