Yard long Bean

Originated in West Africa, subtropical/tropical plant and most widely grown in the warmer parts of South-Eastern Asia, Thailand, and Southern China. It is one of the vegetables having exporting potential in Bangladesh which containing a good amount of digestible protein both in pods and in leaves.

Dow gauk (Chinese), Sasage (Japanese), Kacang belut (Malaysia), Banor (Philippines), Diya mekaral (Sri Lanka), Tau afuk yaou (Thailand), asparagus bean (English), dolique asperge (French), kacang panjang (Indonesia), dâu dûa, dâu giai áo (Vietnam), sândaèk troeung (Cambodia)

Grow optimally at temperature 25-35 °C, never grow in cold climates, only need a hot climate for growth. The soil must be moist, well-drained, can even tolerate slightly acidic soil, best pH in the range 6.0 to 7.0, well adapted to a wide precipitation range (650‒2,000 mm), sea level up to 1,500 m asl.

• Roots - formed along the stem.
• Stems - ± square, slightly ribbed, 0,5‒5 m long, 0,5‒1 cm thick, hollow, largely glabrous, green, sometimes all purple, sometimes purple nodes only. Stipules prominent, ovate, appendaged
• Leaves - bright green, alternate, 6–20 mm long, compound with three heart-shaped, leaflets ovate, rhombic or lanceolate to linear.
• Flowers - white, cream, yellow, mauve or purple, calyx tube 5 mm long, lobes narrowly triangular.
• Fruits - pods, 8–30 cm long with 8‒30 seeds/pod.
• Seeds - oblong to almost globose, variously colored, including black, white, brown, maroon, cream, and green, covered with a white tissue.

• Propagation is by seeds.
• The seeds should be sown 2 cm deep down the soil in rows and planted 30-50 cm apart.
• No watering until the seed gets germinated.

Anthoxyanin, quersetine, flavonoids, saponins, polyphenol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, thiamines, riboflavin.

Medicinal Uses

• Yardlong beans are loaded with antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer properties.
• Pods contain large amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber that helps protect the colon mucosa by reducing exposure time to toxic substances as well as by binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon and reduce LDL cholesterol levels by reducing the reabsorption of cholesterol-binding bile acids in the colon.

Traditional Uses

• Fresh yard-long beans are one of the finest sources of folates. Adequate folate in the diet around conception and during pregnancy may help prevent neural-tube defects in the newborns.
• Steamed young yardlong bean leaves can be used as anemia cure and it is beneficial for women who are breastfeeding because it can increase breast milk.
• The crushed leaves are used in a poultice to heal and bond broken bones.

• Kumpulkan daun segar dan tidak busuk.
• Cuci hingga bersih dengan air mengalir.
• Jemur di bawah naungan selama beberapa hari sampai kering.
• Kemas dalam plastik/wadah bersih.