Description

🟢 Karkoonthal pea, more commonly known as Karkoonthal Payar, is a traditional variety of green long beans (yardlong beans) popular in Kerala. The name “Karkoonthal” refers to its long, curly, and often dark green pods that resemble thick hair strands—hence the poetic name!

🌿 Key Features

• Type: Yardlong bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis)
• Appearance: Slender, slightly curled pods that can grow up to 1.5 meters long
• Growth Habit: Bushy annual plant, reaching 3 to 4.5 feet in height
• Harvest Time: Ready in 80–100 days; pods are best picked when tender

🍽️ Culinary Uses

• Commonly used in stir-fries, thoran, mezhukkupuratti, and avial
• Tender pods are rich in fiber, vitamin C, and folate
• Adds a crunchy texture and mild flavor to traditional Kerala dishes

🌱 Cultivation Tips

• Climate: Thrives in warm, humid conditions—perfect for Kerala
• Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil with organic compost
• Watering: Keep soil moist during flowering and pod formation
• Sunlight: Requires full sun for optimal growth