Family: Fabaceae
Scientific name: Mucuna pruriens
Common name: Velvet bean
Origin: India

The velvet bean is a climbing plant up to 15 meters high from the tropical areas of southern Asia. The seeds have an important role in Hindu medicine and would counteract all kinds of illnesses like Parkinson disease. Nowadays extracts of this species are commercially for sale because of its beneficial properties.

The plant produces purple trusses of flowers, and can (in temperate regions) be grown indoors or in a greenhouse. The plant can also be grown as an annual plant in the garden or a cold greenhouse. The elegant pods are covered in velvety soft hairs that can cause itching upon touch.

Sowing description: Sand the seeds with sanding paper and let them soak for 24 hours in lukewarm water. Then sow he seeds in sowing mix, keep the soil constantly moist and cover with plastic foil or glass. Let the seeds germinate at a warm spot inside the house.

Sowing time: Whole year
Difficulty: Easy
Minimum temperature: 5 degrees Celcius