The How And When Of Green Beans Production
Green beans, like all legumes, have rhizobium bacteria living in nodules on their roots. The plants have a spreading root system with a rooting depth of about 90cm, but most of the roots are in the top 45cm in the soil. There are many different types of beans. Some types are grown for their dry seeds, while other types are grown for their green pods.
With green beans, farmers harvest when the pods are still green before the seeds have increased in size and become hard. With dry beans, farmers harvest after the pods have dried and the seeds have reached their full size. Beans grow either as small bushes or they produce long stems called runners which can climb along poles or along tall plants.
Green beans are a good crop to grow in rotation with other crops or vegetables. They are fast growing and improve the soil because they are legumes. If you use implements to till, then for bean growing till the soil by ploughing and harrowing. If you use hand tools to till then till the soil by hoeing. You can also use the no tillage methods to grow beans.
Climate and Soil
Green beans are a warm season crop and are easily damaged by frost. They do not grow well in very hot weather either. It is therefore best to grow beans in winter in very hot areas. Beans grow well in areas that receive 600 to 1000mm of rainfall. If your area gets less than 600mm of rain, then you will need irrigation to grow cowpeas in these dry areas. Areas with more than 1000mm of rain may not be suitable for beans because the wet weather can cause diseases. You can grow beans in many different soils, although deep, well-drained, fertile, sandy loam and loam soils are best. Beans do not grow well in heavy clay or in very sandy soils. Beans prefer a slightly acidic soil. Get your soil tested to see if you need to add lime.
Planting Green Beans
Time of planting- in areas that get frost in winter, you should plant beans after the danger of frost has passed until mid-January. In hot areas that do not get frost, the best time for planting green beans is from February to September.
Plant spacing- for bush beans, the between-row spacing is usually 50cm and the in-row spacing is about 5cm. For runner beans, use a between-row spacing of 50 to 90cm and an in-row spacing of 10 to 15cm. Runner beans need poles or trellises to climb along. You can let two to three plants climb along one pole. You can use long, thin sticks or pieces of cane or bamboo for the poles. Put the poles in the ground and join them together. Source: EDA Trust.