Yardlong bean 'Asparagus bean' |
Origin: China; possibly Africa
Preferred Situation: Full sun; well draining garden soil.
Harvest Date: Saturday 03 January, 2009
Seed count: 25-30
Description:
Yardlong beans are my favourite ever since served a dish of spicy greenbean with shrimp years ago. I find this red seeded strain very productive. Plants grow very quickly and start producing harvestable 30-45 cm long dark green tender stringless meaty beans in 2 months after the first set of true leaves. Needs a very strong trellis/pole bean tower to hold the mass off the ground. Once established its very resistant to heat that knocks back production in quite a few regular bean varieties. Very pretty mauve & ivory flowers.
Notes:
In tropical climates, this bean can produce for more than a year. In our temerate climate, it will produce until the weather knocks it down. Pods grow quickly so check your trellis often. Can be blanched and frozen...or canned.
Cultivation:
Not frost tolerant, so if you sow these outdoors do so after the threat of spring frost is past. Or get a jump start on the growing season by starting indoors 3-6 weeks prior to seating outdoors. Soak seed 12 hours until fully rehydrated. Sow 1-3 cm deep in warm well draining medium. Germinates in 7 days. Give lots of light and room for the roots to grow. Plants are only as good as their roots. A dusting of legume innoculant to hydrated seed prior to sowing improves vigour.
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