Black Gram (Vigna mungo) Gardening
Black gram is the seed of Vigna mungo, a species of trailing plant in the family Fabaceae, originated in South East Asia. It is also known as black lentil, black matpe bean, Urad, urad dal, udad dal, urd bean, urd, urid, or white lentil. Black gram is widely grown in southern Asia, and is largely used to make dal from the whole or split, dehusked seeds (white lentils).
Black gram plant is an annual legume plant, 30-100 cm tall with both erect and trailing growth habit, and trifoliate leaves. The tap root has a branched root system with smooth, rounded nodules. The flowers are bright yellow color, produced in axillary clusters of 2-6. This is follow by short, flat pod, 4- 6 cm long, containing 3-10 black seeds. Black gram is boiled and eaten whole, or in paste form, or parched and ground into flour. Green pods are eaten as vegetables. It is used extensively in South Indian cuisine.
Black gram can be harvested for green pods after 60-80 days after planting, and 75-130 days for mature beans. In India, it is grown from sea level 2000 m in elevation. Black gram is drought-resistant, and prefers low to medium humidity, and not suitable to the wet tropics.
Black gram is high with dietary fiber, protein, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and niacin. Product known as 'black lentil' is usually the whole black gram, while 'white lentil' is black gram with the black skin removed.
Black Gram (Vigna mungo)
Author: Sanjay ach (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
White lentils
Author: Sanjay Ach (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)
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