Planting, growing and caring for beans in open ground, when to collect and how to store for the winter

The cultivation of each crop has its own characteristics and requires strict adherence to the rules of care. Only then can you get a good harvest and provide yourself with food for a certain period. Next, we’ll look at growing and caring for beans in open ground.

Description of the plant

There are many varieties of this plant, which is a storehouse of fiber and plant proteins for humans. Legumes have been known since ancient times. They were grown by our ancestors in large quantities, as they were the main source of food. Being very nutritious and healthy, they deservedly occupied most of the space in people's gardens in rural areas.

In addition to a large number of useful microelements, the legume plant brings another benefit. After digging up the soil in autumn, along with its stem and root parts, the soil is well fertilized.

Legumes are annual plants. They have an erect stem and can grow from 40 to 120 cm.

The leaves are unpaired or pinnate, depending on the variety. As the beans grow, they develop a powerful rhizome. During flowering, entire inflorescences are formed. The fruits appear in the form of pods. They can be of different lengths and widths. It depends on the variety and the sufficiency of nutrients received during the growth process. The seeds are located inside the pod and gradually ripen. Their color range, overall yield, fruit ripening period, resistance to cold and temperature changes vary depending on the crop.

Types and varieties of beans

The varieties of legumes that are popular today are valued for their exceptional taste, along with their nutritional value and benefits for the human body.

There is a conditional modern gradation of legumes into main groups:

1. Northern varieties. Such species give high yields in regions with moderate and colder climatic conditions.
2. Western European. They occupy fields in hot, southern regions, where dry conditions are frequent companions in growing crops.

Depending on the region, degree of ripening and other parameters, you can select the variety that is most suitable for growing in a particular area. At the moment, some preferences have formed among legume consumers. Which, of course, affects the development of agriculture in this direction.

Belarusian

The name comes from the country where the culture was bred. The variety appeared in 1950. Mid-season peeling appearance. From the moment of sowing to the appearance of fruits, approximately 100 days pass. Flowering occurs 25 days after emergence. The stem reaches a height of 50 to 100 cm. The length of the pod is about 10 cm. The seeds are elongated and have a soft brown color. Perfect for canning.

Windsor

There are white and green subspecies. Bred more than two centuries ago by breeders from England. Medium ripeness. About 120 days pass from sowing to fruit ripening. The white variety ripens 10 days longer. The stem part of these crops often exceeds a meter in height. The pods are small. Their shape is slightly curved and swollen. Inside there are usually 2 large flat green fruits. It's rare to see 3 or 4 of them.

Russian blacks

The legumes were named in 1943 for the color of their seeds—dark purple. The fruits are oval, slightly oblong, wrinkled, of mid-early ripeness. Ripen 90 days after sowing. The pod is about 8 cm long, slightly curved. Due to the absence of a pigment layer, it can be eaten as a whole.

Due to its cold resistance, the variety is planted in northern regions. The height of the bush sometimes reaches 110 cm, but it can also be lower - from 60 cm;

Virovsky

Mid-early variety. The stem is erect and reaches a height of 1 meter. There can be 3-4 fruits in a pod.Large matte, milky or lemon-yellow in color. The bob itself is slightly curved. Its length is 9 cm. The seeds ripen 100 days after sowing. The stem part of the crop can be 80-90 cm high. Resistant to many diseases.

Features of growing beans

Beans are moisture-loving. They give high yields with good watering during flowering. They can grow even on heavy soils with a dense structure.

The main requirement for it is sufficient application of fertilizers. Soil rich in organic matter will help you get a high yield.

Before growing, you should prepare the seeds themselves. This implies some growth stimulation and disinfection. Which, after planting in open ground, will lead to rapid germination of the bean and will relieve pest attacks during the development of the stem part of the plant.

Planting in open ground

Legumes can be planted in open ground in early spring due to their resistance to cold. But it’s still better to wait for the earth to warm up a little while remaining moist enough. In different regions, sowing dates will vary. Here you need to independently choose the optimal conditions and time.

In order to obtain increased productivity in the future, you should carefully follow certain rules for growing legumes:

1. Choosing a place for sowing. A plot where cabbage, potatoes or cucumbers were previously grown is suitable. You should not plant legumes in the same place for two years in a row. It is necessary to ensure crop rotation.
2. Autumn application of compost to the soil. Humus or mullein will do. For 1 sq. m scatter 3 kg of substance. Fertilizers with a high nitrogen content are not suitable for legumes. Therefore, you need to be careful when using chicken manure. The addition of superphosphates will come in handy.
3. Seed preparation.It is not a complicated procedure. You can easily do it at home. First you need to select the mature ones. Excluding seeds with pests. These can be identified by the presence of a hole on the surface of the bean. An insect or its larva often hides there. Next, it will be enough to soak selected seeds in warm water for at least 10-15 hours. The optimal temperature will be +50. You can leave them there for a day. This will help the thick bean cover to open up faster after sowing. It would also be useful to carry out disinfection. For these purposes, specialized stores sell various formulations that come with instructions.

Preparing the soil for planting

Spring soil preparation involves loosening the top layer and distributing the rows. The row spacing should be 45-50 cm. This will facilitate further care of the crop and allow the rhizome to develop normally. Place the seeds in well-moistened soil at a distance of approximately 15 cm. Calculate the depth within 5-7 cm.

For legumes, you can use combined planting with other vegetables. Then the seeds are planted between the rows. This approach will ensure that garden crops are free from aphids. For some time after sowing, it is necessary to regularly moisten the soil until the sprouts appear.

Timing for planting seeds

Legumes are not very demanding of heat, but love good light. Shoots will also appear in cool climates. Therefore, beans can be sown in open ground in early spring. They are not afraid of even slight frosts. Stable down to -4°C. Comfortable conditions for the development and formation of fruits + 22°C. High temperatures are detrimental to the crop - the leaves fall off and the fruits do not ripen.

Tips for caring for beans

The bed with legumes must be weeded periodically. Although their root system does not allow the appearance of a large number of weeds around the bush, it is still useful to loosen the soil around the crop. When the plant reaches about 50 cm, it can be earthed up. What will ensure sustainability of the culture.

The second such hilling should be done before fruit formation. In this case, you help protect the culture from possible diseases.

How and with what to fertilize?

After weeding, complex liquid organic mineral compounds are introduced into the rows. Fertilize the crop per 1 square meter. m of soil maximum 10 g of superphosphate, 5 g of potassium salt and the same amount of ammonium nitrate.

How to tie?

Varieties that are tall need to be staked for greater stability to prevent the pods from sticking to the soil. Their close contact with the ground can lead to rotting of the fruits. Effective staking involves attaching the raised stem part to stakes inserted into the soil next to the bush. They will become the support for the culture.

You can additionally stretch a strong cord or wire across the entire row of pegs for greater stability of the structure.

During the flowering period, it is important to pinch the tops of the plant. This will effectively protect the shoots from aphids. The insect feeds on the juice of young bean shoots. The tops are cut off by about 10 cm. This will also help future fruits to ripen evenly.

If aphids do appear, it is necessary to urgently treat the crops against these pests with a solution of Karbofos, other compounds or a decoction of dandelions. Cut off heavily infected parts of the plant.

Beans may be attacked pea moth. It looks like a brown butterfly. The danger is that the pest lays eggs not only on the leaves, but also inside the fruit. From which yellow caterpillars emerge and eat beans. Fentiuram and Phosfamide will save you from these insects. Spraying is carried out according to the instructions.

You can repel the codling moth in advance by sowing legumes with mustard. Legumes are also susceptible to a fungal disease called anthracosis. It affects the aboveground part of crops. A sign of the disease is brown-red spots on the surface of the leaves. If you do not treat it, the plant will lose its leaves.

Watering the beans

Regular watering is important during the flowering period. Further care must be taken to avoid constant waterlogging of the soil. This threatens the appearance of “black leg” - rotting of the stem part of the plant.

When and how to collect beans?

The ripening period of the crop differs depending on the region. The harvesting periods for legumes vary due to the purpose and further use of the fruits.

Based on this, several stages can be distinguished:

1. For consumption of green pods. They should be juicy and tender. Such fruits are harvested during milky ripeness, which occurs 12-14 days after flowering. Harvesting begins at the bottom of the stems, where the beans ripen first. These pods are suitable for salads and side dishes.
2. For further storage or for planting seeds. The harvest is harvested from the garden when the pods begin to darken and crack right on the stem. Dried beans are used to make soups or side dishes.

Seeds retain their similarity for 5 and even 10 years. For greater safety, it is recommended to store them in a dry and dark place.

How to store beans for the winter?

When the entire crop is harvested, the remaining stem part is cut off. The soil with rhizomes is dug up before wintering. The roots and stems of beans are good compost for the soil, which will enrich it with nitrogen. Beans are stored in different ways.

Drying

In this way, you can prepare ripe pods and fruits. They should not be dried in direct sunlight. The harvest should be laid out in the shade, in a well-ventilated area or outside, but brought into the house at night.

Freezing

Only green pods or fruits are frozen. They are washed, blanched, hermetically sealed and sent to freezers. There they can be stored for 8-12 months.

Conservation

Green legumes and pods are also used. After blanching, place in a sterile container. Next, pour in hot brine, prepared to taste, and pasteurize for about 1.5 hours at +80°C. You can preserve it not separately, but in the form of a variety of salads, combining it with any vegetables and herbs. There are many similar recipes that can be found in cookbooks or on the Internet.

If you have a plot of land that is suitable for growing vegetables. It's worth trying to sow beans. You will receive double benefits. You will harvest this very useful crop and at the same time enrich the soil on your site thanks to the ability of legumes to fertilize the soil.