The asparagus bean, which is also well justified called ‘yardlong bean’, because it forms pods that are almost meter-long, is an interesting climbing bean that we can also grow ourselves.
Yard long beans produce the yields that it promises in the southern and tropical growing countries, which is due to the fact that the temperatures fluctuate too much from day and night and there is not the uniform climate that is actually needed.
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From the time of sowing your long beans, how long does it take to germinate?
On average, it takes between 45 – 60 days for long beans (yardlong beans) to grow after sowing. It produces pods that hangs in pairs, which can grow 30 – 60 cm in length. Each pod of long beans grows rapidly, which can mature in just 9 days after the flower sprouts and blooms.
It can take a few months for yardlong beans to begin to sprout from seed, and the beans continue after a period of about fourteen days. When the beans structure is formed, it doesn’t take long for them to begin developing at a faster rate.
Nevertheless, it’s worth pocketing a few of these beans every year, especially for self-sufficient people, because variety is particularly in demand when growing yourself.
In addition, all parts of the asparagus beans can be eaten raw, which will be of particular interest to the raw monasteries.
The raw food enthusiast can consume leaves (as spinach), shoot tips and pods immediately, or you can fry the pods immediately in the pan or wok without blanching beforehand.
In a few minutes, we have conjured up a dish that is hardly possible with other vegetables.
In this article, we would take a closer look at how to grow long beans almost perfectly.
Botany
The asparagus bean with the botanical name Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis is a subspecies of the cowpea or cowpea Vigna unguiculata and belongs to the genus Vigna, which is native to Africa and Asia.
The genus Vigna fits into the subfamily of the butterflies (Faboideae) and this in the plant family of the legumes (Fabaceae).
The legumes in turn belong botanically to the order of the butterfly-like (Fabales). The Latin unguiculátus means nail-shaped, and probably refers to the straight pods of the cowpea.
The abbreviation subsp. means subspecies (subspecies) and sesquipedalis is made up of sesqui = one and a half and pedalis = “belonging to the foot”, which may indicate the 1 1/2 foot long pods.
In our part of the world, the species does not produce any lasting benefits. The plants grow up from seeds, bring their pods within 3 or 4 weeks in mid-August, which quickly develop seeds.
Later pods grow back here and there, but not in significant quantities. In terms of home-growing, the asparagus bean is a delicacy that is available for a short time.
But since we don’t have to worry particularly about the culture and because we can easily get seeds for the coming year, the cultivation gets its value accordingly.
In the Netherlands, for example, the species is also grown in greenhouses. But there it is necessary to spray against spider mites, which tend to be found under glass. This effort is actually not worthwhile for self-cultivation, even if this is recommended on the seed bags.
Location
The culture needs a sheltered, warm and sunny place, which can be somewhat overshadowed at times. The soil should be loose, deep (plump roots) and rich in nutrients, but fresh manure is not to be given.
Sandy soils are ideal. As a rule, however, a normal garden soil that is well-cultivated is sufficient.
The asparagus beans need a climbing aid, such as narrow sticks or, even better, a reinforcement mat, which can be sown from both sides. The author sows 3 seeds every 10 cm in one place, one centimeter deep.
How to choose the right variety of beans for your home
The variety is selected depending on the climate zone and the place of planting. Beans are divided into curly and bushy, and these, in turn, are of three types: peeling, asparagus and garnishes.
The shelling is called grain , only beans are used for food, since the pods are hard and inedible. Its varieties are thermophilic, with a long growing season, ripen in open ground only in hot climates.
Asparagus is called vegetables and legumes. Eat green pods free of hard fiber. In the middle lane, early mature varieties begin to bear fruit about 60 days after germination, late – after 100 and above.
The crop can be harvested all the time, until frost. Seedlings are planted in the north in open ground. An ornamental plant for the beauty and health of the soil. Like other legumes, it accumulates nitrogen in the soil, which it takes from the air.
Tomatoes, potatoes and other plants love nitrogen-rich soil. good to know. Bean neighbors in the garden are less likely to storm late.
Fans of growing vegetables at home plant shrub varieties on the balcony or loggia – they ripen faster and have a root system at a depth of no more than 10 – 20 cm.
They stem up to a height of 50 cm. Many varieties do not need large pots, lots of soil and complex structures for tying, enough stick up to 60 cm.
In curls the root reaches a length of 1 m, and the stems up to 5 m in length. it is best to grow it outside. It not only bears fruit in abundance but also adorns the site.
It’s used for erecting pergolas, gazebos and fences, or for building supports that can withstand strong winds. Vertical planting of curly beans saves space in small areas. Compared to shrubs, it is more resistant to pests.
Preparation of planting material and soil 2 – 3 days before planting the soil should be dug up and loosened, and the prepared soil disinfected with a weak warm solution of potassium permanganate. Properties. Beans with exceptional germination capacity. Whole beans will germinate anyway.
Planted in dried, germinated or seedling grains , depending on how long the seedlings are needed. Germinated beans are placed in holes carefully because they are vulnerable.
How to plant beans in a seedling pot for seedlings
Containers with peat-chickpea mixture are prepared, using a mixture of compost with grass soil or a mixture of garden soil and grass. It is advisable to add sand to the last two.
Another contact hole depth of 3-4 cm and let them dry grains or sprouts, pots are placed in a bright place with a temperature over 20 degrees Celsius. After 15 – 20 days, the seedlings are ready for planting, are then transplanted to open ground of 2 – 3 leaves.
Sowing
It’s advisable to first grow young plants in pots and plant them with this growth lead in mid-May, but from May to June the nights are still cool and the seedlings simply do not grow from the spot during these weeks.
It’s enough if we sow them directly into the open land at the end of May and in the first half of June. This has the advantage that we can use the bed for other crops beforehand, such as lettuce or early radishes. Peas, which are closely related to our species as butterflies, should not act as a preculture.
Here the asparagus beans are standing on a wire mat that has proven itself.
The beans will rise after a week in warm weather. When they are 15 cm high, they are piled up a little and then the trellis or lattice is set up.
Watering beans, removing weeds and loosening the soil
The treatment includes removing weeds and loosening the soil. The plant does not tolerate water absorption and needs air flow to the roots. The hard surface of the earth should be dismantled between irrigations. Loosening is more convenient to do with a small, shallow vessel, so as not to damage the roots.
Peeling varieties before flowering are watered as needed, alternating moisture with loosening. During the hawk period, irrigation is suspended, during fruit formation and ripening, it is multiplied, until the end of the growing season, it stops gradually.
Asparagus and garnishes were watered moderately and regularly throughout the season. Inadequate watering can cause flowers to fall and ovaries, as well as adversely affect the taste of the crop.
Standing water is threatening with excessive growth of leaf mass and risk of decay. Potassium deficiency leads to bacterial and fungal diseases.
Indicator of element deficiency: the appearance of yellow spots on leaves and pods. To avoid this, a small amount of rotting bird droppings is put into the beds or sprinkled with wood ash.
Further care and harvest
As mentioned above, even day and night temperatures around 25 ° C are ideal.
If these conditions are not met, then the plants will not grow much, but if we come to the said optimum, then everything goes very quickly and suddenly the trellises are full of meter sleeves. Especially in the period of the main growth, the bed should not dry out too much, but should be watered regularly.
This is all the more true for the time of harvest, because otherwise the pods become tough, ripen and dry out too quickly.
As with other cultures, the rule here also applies: “Whoever harvests more often harvests more”. It is beneficial if we do not allow the pods to ripen and therefore cover the need for seeds in another place.
Conclusion
The yardlong bean is an amazing plant that could be grown by domestic gardeners. In this article, we’ve discussed how to grow this plant successfully from planting stage to harvest.
