I grew it when I lived in Colo. But it was an annual. Did great tho. Have a friend in Ohio and she grows it there.

I save the seed of Dolichos labab from year to year. Easy to grow, and the seed pods are as much a feature of its beauty as the flowers. Especially if positioned where the Sun is behind the vines.

I've grown it the past three summers and love the purple hues in the stems and leaves, flowers are lovely and the beans so sweet.

This past summer: started indoors, planted out first week in June (after frost danger has passed) into a pot - they require warmth (heat). Never did well in the ground, just sat all summer. By the end of September the ones in the pot had grown approx 12-15 feet in height. We had a strange summer with less heat than normal, so they did well. We typically have a killing frost mid to end of September if that gives you a timeline. Pods produced beans, but they were smaller than the purchased seed - probably needed more time to develop. I'm going to grow that seed next year to see if there's any difference from the store bought.

I just picked up a package of seeds today. I have grown them in the past and they did very well. I started in the house in peat pots and when the weather was warm enough I put them into a large container with a trellis. I have never eaten the beans I was under the assumption they are toxic.
Christine