LEGUMINOUS VEGETABLES
Immature legume pods and green seed are used as vegetables. Green pods contain good quantities of most nutrients, especially protein, vitamins and minerals, but little oils and carbohydrates. They are also high in fiber. Immature seed contains similar nutrients to mature seed but are higher in vitamins A and C and are easier to digest. A few leguminous vegetables contain toxic substances. All should be well cooked before eating. They can be adequately prepared by boiling 20 minutes.
Seeds are available to members of our network.
To find out how to request seeds, click here.
Chickpea | Common Bean-Bush | Cowpea | Jack Bean | Lablab Bean | Lima Bean | Pigeon Pea | Soybean | Sword Bean | Winged Bean | Yardlong Bean
Cajanus cajan Elevation: up to 3,000m
Pigeon Pea SA, MS, LL, H
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Perennial shrub produces pulse or green seed in seasonally dry climates. Although common in the low dry and humid tropics, this frost-sensitive species has been reported cultivated up to elevations of 2,000 m (6,000 ft) in the Himalayas and to 3,000 m (9,000 ft) in Venezuela. Uses include: vegetable/pulse, forage, green manure, and agroforestry. Soil pH: 4.5-8.4. Height 1-5m.
Refer to Pulses (grain legumes) section for varieties available.
Canavalia ensiformis Elevation: up to 1,800m
Jack Bean LL, MS, SA, H
Images: Plants Pod
Very young pods edible; mature beans are highly toxic, but heat treatment eliminates the toxic effects; very drought-tolerant valuable green manure and cover crop species; ideal pH 5-6; will grow on impoverished tropical soils where other pulses will not grow. It has been a useful species in tropical soil reclamation efforts because of its deeply penetrating root system (affording high drought tolerance), its nitrogen fixation capabilities (providing for soil nutrient improvement) and its tolerance of a wide range of soil acidity and salinity conditions; can be used as a forage crop for ruminant (cud-chewing) animals. Soil pH: 4.3-8.0.
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Canavalia gladiata Elevation: up to 1,500m
Sword Bean MS, LL, RF, H
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Uncooked seed is toxic at any stage, BUT young tender immature pods are edible after being boiled and water poured off. Do not eat in large quantities and do not eat mature seeds, even after boiling! Drought-tolerant, green manure; seeds germinate readily. Optimum growth occurs in full sunlight but sword beans are tolerant of some shade. Preferred environmental conditions are found in the humid lowland tropics but these beans may be grown with success in tropical elevations to 1,000 m (3,000 ft). Sword Bean thrives in tropical climates exhibiting moderately high temperature (15-30°C/59-86°F) environments. Sword Bean is tolerant of a wide range of rainfall conditions (from 700-4,200 mm or approximately 27-165 in). Sword Bean is well adapted to growth and survival in low-quality soils. Soil pH 4.3-7.5.
Cicer arietinum Elevation: 0-2300m
Chickpea/Garbanzo SA, MS, LL, T
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Chickpea is a very drought tolerant cool season crop (8-22C/46-72F) that tolerates a lot of heat during fruiting and ripening. It is grown as a cool season annual in a broad belt through the Mediterranean region to the sub-tropical and tropical regions of Asia, Europe, Central & South America. The chickpea grows in a variety of soils but does not tolerate wet or saline soils very well. Very heavy soils may cause problems in emergence of seedlings. Immature beans used as a vegetable; dried seed used in a variety of dishes; young leaves and shoots used as herbs. Soil pH 4.7-9.5.
Refer to Pulses (grain legumes).
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Glycine max Elevation: 0-3000m
Soybean, Soya Bean SA, MS, H, T
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Cooked vegetable soybean seeds are eaten like lima beans or peas. Vegetable soybean is used frequently as a rotated cash crop between second and first crops of paddy rice; soil-improvement properties; tolerates continuous cropping.
Refer to Pulses (grain legumes) section for varieties available.
Lablab purpureus Elevation: sea level up to 2,100m
Lablab bean, Hyacinth Bean, Dolichos MS, LL, H, T, SA
Image: Red
Lablab Bean is capable of growing in a wide range of climatic conditions and soil types, depending upon the variety chosen. Lablabs have been grown from sea level to 2,000 m (6,000 ft) in tropical regions. It tolerates drought periods well but has been grown successfully in climates ranging from 200-2500 mm (8-100 in) annual rainfall. Lablabs prefer well-drained soils with a pH range from 4.4-7.8. Lablab has been grown both in nutrient-poor soils and those high in some minerals such as aluminum. Dark-seeded cultivars have high levels of both cyanogenic glucoside and a trypsin inhibitor and must be cooked, sprouted, or fermented before eating. Soil pH: 4.5-8.0.
Refer to Pulses (grain legumes) section for varieties available.
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Phaseolus lunatus Elevation: 0-2800m
Lima Bean ‘Hopi Red’ SA
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Very drought tolerant bean. Small beans with red/beige. coloring. Originally collected from three farmers near Hotevilla on the Hopi reservation. Low climber, almost bushy. Soil pH: 4.5-8.4.
Phaseolus vulgaris Elevation: 0-3000m in tropics
Common Bean- Bush Type SA, MS, LL, T, H
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Contender: 55 days, pod grows to 16 cm (6.5 in); flavorful, string-less, and fleshy "snap" bean; resistant to powdery mildew and bean mosaic virus; will not produce when too hot and humid. Grown in a wide range of soils, preferring a well-drained friable soil, in full sun with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0; spent vines can be used as mulch, livestock food or cultivated into the soil. Prefers elevations between 1000 m and 3000 m and soil temperature over 10ºC (50ºF). Soil pH: 4.0-9.0.
Refer to Pulses (grain legumes) section for more information.
Psophocarpus tetragonolobus Elevation: 0-2000m
Winged Bean MS, RF, LL, T
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Climbing vine does best in hot, humid zones; edible pods, beans, leaves, tubers, and flowers; plant in a sunny location, frost sensitive; does well in a variety of soils except sands or high salinity environments; drought sensitive. Pods can be eaten when young or seeds can be used as a pulse. Soil pH: 4.3-8.5.
Refer to Pulses (grain legumes) section for varieties available.
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Vigna unguiculata Elevation: 0-1500m
Cowpea SA, MS, LL, H
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Drought-tolerant forage/edible pulse; bush plant with compact pods. A native to central Africa, this legume can be used as a green manure and erosion control. The plant grows rapidly to control erosion. Succeeds best in warm weather surviving some drought conditions and even some shade. It is not particular to soil types, will thrive where soil is well drained, properly inoculated and moderately rich with lime
Uses: vegetable (young leaves are edible as well as young pods), fodder, green manure, cover crop, erosion control, and nitrogen fixation. Seeds can be eaten green or dried. Seeds are nutritious and high in protein. Young pods can be eaten as “snap beans.” Young leaves are edible.
Refer to Pulses (grain legumes) section for varieties available.
Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis Elevation: 0-1000m
Asparagus Bean/Yard Long Bean MS, LL, T
A very productive climbing or trailing vine, producing pods that are typically 51cm (20in) long. The pods must be harvested before they become stringy. Is disease-resistant. Thrives in hot humid climates. Soil should be warm (20-22°C/68-72°F) at planting. Grows best in full sunlight with daytime temperatures of 25-35°C (77-95°F) and night time temperatures not falling below 15°C (59°F). Yard long beans will grow and produce poorly in the mid-elevation tropics or in temperate climates. Soil pH: 4.3-7.5.
Green Arrow : Slender, light green pods, up to 50cm long.
Green Pod Kaohsiung: Heat and wet-tolerant variety; long, slender, round pods.
Guilin: Variety from China; long, thin pods; a high-yielder in a trial at ECHO. Image
KY Bush: Early variety, resistant to insects and viruses.
Purple-Podded: Productive; attractive color remains after cooking; shorter pods than green-podded; 80-90 days.
Taiwan Black: Pods up to 102 cm (40 in) at ECHO; black seeds.
Mixed varieties packet available also.
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