Val Seeds (Pawata)

The seeds of Val are also consumed as legumes. They can be sown when they are very young and tender. It is a sweet, smooth creamy textured beans.

How to grow Val (Pawata) from Seeds:

Introduction and Uses: Also known as Lima Beans, Vaal is a great source of fibre and proteins. Research has revealed that consumption of Lima Beans could help in controlling diabetes, maintaining blood pressure and cholesterol. These veggies are a great source of molybdenum too. Molybdenum in various supplement forms is used as an anti-inflammatory agent and for the treatment of copper toxicosis.

Botanical Name: Dolichos lablab

Sowing Season: Throughout the year.

Sowing method: Seeds are sown directly in raised beds or containers.

Sowing container: Big sized circular pots or grow bag with 16” diameter and minimum depth of 8-10 inches.

Sowing medium: 2 part garden soil & 1 part any organic manure or 1 part garden soil, 1 part coco peat & 1 part Vermicompost.

Steps for seed sowing (Seed starting) in a container:

Take a container of your choice with drainage holes at the bottom.

Fill the container with proper potting layers & selected growing medium.

Sow 2 seeds at the centre of the pot.

Spacing:

On raised beds, sow two seeds per spot in a spacing of 3 x 3 ft.

Push the seeds a little in the soil medium with your fingers & completely cover them with surrounding soil.

Water the sown seed bed immediately by a light shower using a watering can.

Growth stages of Val (Pawata) Plant:

Sprouting Stage: Seeds will germinate within first 6-8 days & tiny sprouts will be visible.

Cotyledons: The first two leaves will emerge in the second week of germination. These are false leaves called as cotyledons.

First leaves: First leaves will emerge above cotyledons at the end of the second week.

Seedling stage: Second week onwards, seedlings will start growing into a small plant.

Thinning: After the second week, keep only single seedling at one spot, cut off the weak, small & lagging seedlings with a pair of scissors.

How to take care for Val (Pawata) Plant:

Sunlight: Val (Pawata) plant requires full sunlight. Therefore your raised bed should be made at a bright sunny spot. Keep the Val container under open sunlight.

Watering: Water your potted Val (Pawata) plant every alternate day in winter & every day in summer. Water at the soil near the plant. Use a watering can to make sure that the plants get water in the form of a shower & not by a single flow. You can also make provision for watering by drip irrigation system for your raised beds.

Trellis: Val plant is a bushy vine & needs plenty of space to grow. So develop a strong trellis support up to height of 5-6 ft, by using locally available material like pipes, bamboo, ropes, wires etc. for your Val plant. Read about trellis support ideas.

Manuring: As mentioned earlier, add good quality organic manure in the soil with 2:1 ratio before sowing seeds. organic fertilizer can be well rotten cow dung manure, farmyard manure, compost or vermicompost.

Top Dressing: When your Val plant is more than 45 days old, provide one tablespoon of 15:15:15 (NPK) fertilizer per plant or mix handful of Vermicompost in the soil around each plant.

Plant care: Always look for the early signs of any insect/fungal infection/ any other infections. Spray appropriate medicines as soon as any symptoms of such diseases are spotted.

Harvesting: (60 to 70 days from sowing) Vaal plant will start flowering at the end of 2nd month. You can start harvesting fresh Vaal pods after 2 months of seed sowing. Harvesting can be done either for Pods or for beans. Harvesting can continue for very long time, as long as plant survives.