Yardlong beans also known as Snake Beans,Sitaw Beans,Butong,Asparagus beans, or Noodle beans belongs to the Cowpea family and is known as Vigna Unguiculata.Yardlong beans dont really grow upto a yard, they just get their name because they are very long in size.Its grown for its striking long pods. Yardlong beans are cultivated and widely used in Asian cuisine. The beans range in colors from pale green.dark green to red and deep burgundy.
Purple Yardlong Bean Flowers
Green Yardlong/ Sitaw Bean Flowers
Yardlong beans plants have pale pink to violet blue flowers,these beans can be grown from seed,Yardlong beans can also be easily grown in pots or containers.Its a reliable crop to have in any garden . They no not require much care and pretty much produce all season long.Yardlong beans can be grown as both a garden ornamental or as a vegetable.
To begin with you can either directly sow the seeds or you can transplant them once the saplings are about 5 to 6 inches tall.Sow the seeds about an inch deep in good potting medium.A mix of garden soil, cocopeat and cow manure, or compost/ worm castings/ vermicompost can be used.The seeds generally germinate within 2 to 10 days depending on the climate and temperature. The best time to grow Yardlong beans in India is from June To January,The plants do well in warm weather,however there are varieties that are suitable for rainy season and winter seasons too.Yardlong bean plants require regular and heavy watering,its important that you don't let the plants dry out,also make sure that you use well draining soil in the potting mix.
Yardlong beans are annual and indeterminate plants with a twining habit,they can reach a height of 8 to 12 feet.hence providing the Yardlong bean plants with a trellis,pole or wire support is very important.Pinch out the flower buds and side shoots that sprout under one foot this helps the plant focus its nutrients on growing and producing longer beans and higher yields .There is no need to provide the plant with extra fertilization as long as you use a good potting medium in the start that is full of rich organic matter.
At about 60 to 90 days of planting, flowers start to appear on the Yardlong bean vines,These flowers attract various pollinators like Bees,Yellow Jackets and Ants.Depending on the variety sometimes if the temperatures get too hot the flowers tend to drop,however once the temperature cools down and gets back to normal the flower drop stops and the plant start producing beans.The flowers bloom early in the morning and close by mid afternoon. Yardlong bean flowers are self pollinators ,so they do not require any help in pollination.
Once the flowers drop after blooming a tiny bean emerges,Yardlong beans grow very fast they can grow about a 3 to 4 cms each day.The beans reach a suitable picking length within 5 to 6 days.The beans appear in pairs of two at times.
Its important to pick the beans while they are young and tender or else they tend to get hard and chewy in no time at all also the seeds from within mature and swell,early picking ensures that the plant remains productive.
Since the stems are tough always make use of a pair of clean scissors or a knife to cut the pods of the vine to ensure that there is no damage done.
Yardlong Beans are similar to green beans they are crunchy and retain their shape and texture after being cooked they can also be eaten raw or steamed.The purple,red or burgundy beans have an earthy,mushroom type flavor where as the green yardlong beans have an asparagus type flavor to them.They are a great addition to stir fries,curries and salads.
Yardlong Beans are highly susceptible to black aphids,mite,mealy bugs and fungal attacks,ants love this plant they play host to attracting various pests and diseases.These pests can be hard to spot as they generally hide under the young tender leaves,they can infest the entire plant in no time.Hence checking the plants for any pests especially under the leaves and new growth is very important.
If the plant is not severely infested with pests you can try and remove the infected parts of the plant manually,and hose it down with water.For plants that are severely infested you can make an organic herbal spray by boiling together 2 fresh marigolds,1 handful of fresh Neem leaves,1 tsp of turmeric powder,and 1 Piece of charcoal in a liter of water,boil it till it reduces to half the volume,cool,strain through a sieve or muslin cloth to filter and then spray it all over the plant,repeat if necessary.
When growing Yardlong bean plants make sure you dont add too much of cow manure as excess nitrogen will lead to more foliage growth less bean production.Yardlong bean plants are great natural nitrogen fixers.
Happy Gardening To All :)
