Family: Fabaceae
Scientific name: Canavalia ensiformis
Common name: Jack Bean
Origin: South America

Jack and the Beanstalk is a well-known fairy tale about a beanstalk that reaches heaven. This is the Jack bean, the bean of Jack, possibly the bean of the mysterious fairy tale. The origin of the tale is unclear, as well as the author. But we can assume that the author intended this bean. Likely, the fairy tale is told from generation to generation since the 18^th century. In South America, the stark white beans are used for consumption by both humans and animals. The beans are slightly poisonous, but lose their toxic substance when they are cooked. Besides the toxic element, the beans contain a lot of urease, an enzyme, and some other interesting elements for biotechnology. It’s a leguminous plant with pods that can reach a height of 2 meters (less than the fairy tale), is quite resistant to drought and can be kept as an annual plant.

Sowing description: Sow the seeds just below the surface of sowing mix and let them germinate at around 20 degC and bright conditions. Keep the soil constantly moist.

Sowing time: February - June
Difficulty: Intermediate
Minimum temperature: 0 graden Celsius

Photo: infocanavaliaensiformis via blogspot