Hyacinth Bean Vine

hostaaddict · Post by **hostaaddict** » Sep 27, 2007 10:33 pm

We were in the Amana Colonies last week and spotted the beautiful vines along a split rail fence. they were covered with deep purple blooms and had large reddish purple pods. I was told they were Hyacinth Beans, and brought home some seeds. Now how to I proceed? We live on border of zone 4/5. Do I start them indoors or wait till Spring and plant the seeds outdoors? Anyone growing them this far North that could share some advice? thanks! (wish I had my camera with me to have taken pic)

kHT · Post by **kHT** » Sep 27, 2007 10:51 pm

I'm north of IA and we just start them after the threat of frost has passed. My sister in Co grows them and she is the one that got me started with them. I believe you can start them inside, anyone else grow them???

JaneG · Post by **JaneG** » Sep 28, 2007 2:17 pm

They grew on the west side of the back porch of the 100-yr-old house I grew up in. They were a great cover for the windows from the hot afternoon sun. They came back year after year from seed.

I should try them myself.

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Sep 28, 2007 3:09 pm

Seems a lot of the bean type flowering plants don't do well when transplanted this far north in 4/5, so they say to direct sow in the soil after all danger of frosts are past. I have done some transplanting, but it's few and far between that they bloom, b/c of the shorter summers. Try a few of both why not?

VThosta/daylilylover · Post by **VThosta/daylilylover** » Sep 28, 2007 3:20 pm

I grew them when I lived in zone 6. I began them indoors and put them in full sun outdoors. They thrive in hot weather! I had some seeds that I kept and tried them here in zone 4 but haven't had much luck. They seem to need a longer growing season or perhaps the summers we've had just were not what they wanted. The vines did grow but I didn't get many flowers and no seeds at all!

If you have the right structure for them to grow on and start them indoors ahead of time, they are worth the effort. Since they grow very, very fast don't start them too early indoors.

hostaaddict · Post by **hostaaddict** » Sep 29, 2007 12:23 am

Thanks! I really like them and think I will plant some seeds in ground after frost danger has passed. Also will try a few in the peat pots and maybe they would transplant better that way. Will post pics next summer if they do well.