Soil, climate and sowing windows
- Climate: Grows best in warm weather between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius; sensitive to cold temperatures and frost.
- Soil requirements: Prefers fertile, well-drained sandy loam or clay loam with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
- Sowing seasons: Spring-summer crop is sown in February-March, while the monsoon crop is sown in June-July.
- Seed treatment: Treat seeds with Trichoderma bio-fungicide or Rhizobium culture before sowing to protect seedlings and promote root nodulation.
Trellising systems and crop management
- Trellis training: Trailing varieties should be trained onto bamboo stakes, wire trellises, or string nets to prevent pods from rotting on wet soil.
- Fertilizer management: As a nitrogen-fixing legume, long beans require moderate basal nitrogen and balanced phosphorus and potassium.
- Irrigation: Provide regular, moderate watering during flowering and pod development, avoiding root-zone water stagnation.
Pest management and harvesting intervals
Common pests affecting long beans include aphids, pod borers, and whiteflies transmitting yellow mosaic virus. Use yellow sticky traps and botanical neem sprays preventively. Harvesting starts within 50 to 60 days of sowing, and tender pods should be picked every 2 to 3 days before seeds swell and pods turn spongy.
Official source
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ICAR - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
How many days after sowing can long beans be harvested?
Harvesting typically begins 50 to 60 days after sowing, continuing at 2 to 3 day intervals for several weeks.
Why is trellising recommended for long beans?
Trellising keeps trailing vines and hanging pods off the damp soil, ensuring straight, clean pods, reducing fungal disease, and simplifying picking.
Does cultivating long beans benefit soil fertility?
Yes, long beans form symbiotic root nodules with Rhizobium bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen, enhancing soil fertility for subsequent crops.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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