Val Seeds (Pawata)

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 the minimum depth of 8-10 inches.
• Sowing medium: Cocopeat

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 center 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 the surrounding soil.
• Water the sown seedbed immediately by a light shower using a watering can.

GROWTH STAGES OF VAL (PAWATA) PLANT:

• Sprouting Stage: Seeds will germinate within the 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 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 a 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. To develop strong trellis support up to a 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.
• 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 a 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 a very long time, as long as the plant survives.