El garrofon It is a beautiful plant that also produces edible seeds. Its cultivation is so simple that it can even be kept in a pot, for example near a lattice so that its climbing stems cover it with beautiful green leaves.
Do you want to know their care? Well here is your file.
Origin and characteristics
Our protagonist is a perennial climbing herb native to tropical America whose scientific name is phaseolus lunatus. It is popularly known as pallar, hives, Lima bean, Lima bean, pallar bean, guaracaro and garrofón. It is characterized by reaching a height of 2-3 meters, with ovate to rhombic leaves that are 3-13cm long by 1,5-6cm wide.. The flowers are grouped in inflorescences 8 to 36cm long, and can be lilac or pink to violet.
The fruit is oblong, 3,5-6,5cm long by 1-1,4cm wide. Inside we will find 3 to 6 oblong, square, reniform or orbicular seeds of brown to black color, mottled with black.
What are their cares?
If you want to have a garrofon in your patio or garden, we recommend providing the following care:
- Location: outdoors, in full sun or in semi-shade.
- Earth:
- Pot: universal growing substrate.
- Garden: fertile, with good drainage.
- Irrigation: frequent, it is necessary to avoid that the substrate or earth dries up.
- Subscriber: from early spring to late summer / early fall with ecological fertilizers.
- Multiplication: by seeds in spring. Direct sowing in the seedbed in full sun.
- Rusticity: withstands cold and weak frosts down to -2ºC.
What uses does it have?
Apart from its use as an ornamental, it is a very interesting culinary plant. The seeds, once cooked (for about 40 minutes) are an ingredient in Valencian paella, rice with chicken and rabbit, as well as other dishes such as pumpkin stew.
What did you think of this plant? Did you know her?