GREEN MANURE Lablab ‘Highworth’ Cover Crop Seeds
Botanical Name: Lablab purpureus
Lablab ‘Highworth’ is a vigorous, warm-season climbing legume that improves soil health, boosts nitrogen levels, and offers dense ground cover during the summer months. Ideal for orchards, trellised gardens, or broadacre systems, this late-flowering variety produces abundant green biomass and suppresses weeds while enhancing biodiversity and moisture retention.
- Fast-growing and drought-tolerant with deep roots for soil improvement.
- Fixes atmospheric nitrogen and adds valuable organic matter.
- Late-flowering Rongai type, ideal for biomass and long-term cover.
- Suppresses weeds and supports beneficial insects and soil life.
- Edible pods (must be cooked); also used as forage or green manure crop.
Plant Details:
- Plant Type: Warm-season annual or biennial climbing legume
- Growth Habit: Vigorous vines 2–6 m long
- Coverage: Approx. 1000 m² per kg (broadcast)
Sowing Information:
- Sow When:
Temperate Regions: Late spring–early summer
Subtropical Regions: Spring–early autumn
Tropical Regions: Year-round (avoid peak wet season)
Arid Regions: Spring–summer (with irrigation or post-rain) - Germination: 7–14 days
- Depth: Sow 4 cm deep
- Position: Full sun
- Sow Where: Direct into prepared soil, along fences, trellises, or garden beds
- Soil Type: Well-drained soils, pH 6.0–7.5
- Spacing: 50–75 cm apart or 100 g per 50 m² (broadcast)
Management:
- Water regularly during establishment. Drought-tolerant once mature.
- Can be trained on trellises or used as dense ground cover.
- Cut back or mow before flowering for green manure and nitrogen benefits.
Harvest and Incorporation:
Chop and dig into soil 2–3 weeks before planting your next crop to return nutrients and organic matter. In no-dig systems, lay as surface mulch for weed suppression and moisture retention.
When to Sow Lablab in Your Climate
| Climate Zone | Best Planting Time | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Temperate | Late spring–early summer | Plant after frost when soil is warm enough to support germination. |
| Subtropical | Spring–early autumn | Ideal in warm, well-drained soil. Avoid waterlogging during early growth. |
| Tropical | All year | Best sown during dry season or with drainage if wet season is intense. |
| Cool | Late spring–summer | Wait until danger of frost has passed for successful germination and growth. |
| Arid | Spring–summer | Sow after rainfall or use irrigation; mulch to conserve moisture. |
Quick Growing Guide
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Germination Time | 7–14 days |
| Sowing Depth | 4 cm |
| Watering | Water regularly during establishment. Withstands drought when mature. |
| Growth Period | 8–12 weeks before flowering or cutting |
| Incorporation | Chop and dig in before flowering for optimal nitrogen return and biomass. |