The meter bean does not bear its name for nothing. The pods are a lot longer than the usual pole beans. Its cultivation is most productive in warm regions. Everything you need to know about culture can be found here.

In a nutshell

  • the name and its synonyms come from the length of the beans
  • the original home is warmer, so there is less yield outdoors
  • the asparagus bean is inserted like the usual garden bean
  • Snake beans, unlike other beans, can be eaten raw

The meter bean

The meter bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis) belongs to the butterfly flowers and is native to Africa and Asia. It is an annual and has only a short cultivation period. For consistently high yields, it needs constant warmth day and night, which we cannot guarantee. Cultivation in a greenhouse is possible, but due to the risk of spider mites it is more complex than cultivation outdoors.

Source: Aris riyanto, "+arya+" kacang panjang (Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis) ꦏꦕꦁ ꦭꦚ꧀ꦗꦫꦤ꧀ 2022 4, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Other features:

  • needs warmth, stops growing below 20 degrees
  • depending on the variety climbing or bushy
  • Culture duration about 12 weeks
  • attractive flowers in white, light yellow or purple
  • Pods between 30 and 50 cm long
  • tolerates drought

location

The snake bean likes it warm, sunny and sheltered. Some shade at the site is not a problem, but it grows poorly in full shade. The floor does not have to have any special properties. Regular garden soil will do, as long as it is loose and deep. Dry soil is preferable to waterlogging. Meter beans grow better in sand than in clay soil. A wind-protected place is important so that the shoots and tendrils do not snap off. Nevertheless, enough air should get to the plants so that they dry off quickly after rain.

cultivation

There are two ways to grow meter beans:

  • Grow in the greenhouse, cold frame or on the windowsill
  • No-till outdoors

Prefer

Preparing them in a warm place can give the beans a head start in growth. However, this only works if the nights after planting are not too cool.
Planting out later will be easier if a single pot is used for each bean plant. This can then also be smaller. Otherwise, a pot with a diameter of 10 cm is used for about 4 to 5 plants.
Manual:

  • Start sowing at the end of April
  • fill the pots with garden soil to 3 cm below the rim
  • distribute the seeds and then fill in the soil
  • water well
  • Germination temperature evenly at 20 degrees
  • when the plants have grown vigorously, plant out in mid-May

Cultivation outdoors

An advantage of growing outdoors is that later transplanting is no longer necessary. In addition, no additional space is required in the warm. Meter beans can be sown in clusters or in rows.
Manual:

  • Sow from May to mid-July at the latest
  • when sowing in rows, plant a bean every 5 to 10 cm at a distance of 40 to 50 cm
  • for clump seed, put 3 beans together every 40 cm
  • a sowing depth of 3 cm applies to both variants
  • Cover seeds with soil and press down slightly
  • water well
  • Germination time about a week, longer in cooler weather, keep moist
Source: 阿橋 HQ, 豆角(長豇豆) Vigna unguiculata v sesquipedalis -香港嘉道理農場 Kadoorie Farm, Hong Kong- (9200947374) edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0

Cultivation in the greenhouse

Higher yields of meter beans are obtained in the greenhouse, as the temperatures can be kept warm evenly throughout the day and night. The care is similar to the culture in the field. The beans are sown as soon as it is warm enough in the greenhouse and kept moist until emergence. Later, the plants are watered only when needed. In the greenhouse, the plants climb best on strings. While the bean fly is a rare pest under glass, spider mites and whiteflies can become a nuisance. Good ventilation and high humidity are very important.

growth height

Climbing meter beans can reach a height of 2 to 3 m. You therefore need a climbing aid that is sufficiently high. Alternatively, they can also grow on a fence or wall, as long as the fence or wall corresponds to their growth height. Wire or a taut rope is then sufficient for raising.

climbing aids

All trellises that are correspondingly high are suitable. They do not necessarily have to be bought. You can also use old tool handles or tree branches as climbing aids. The climbing aid is attached when the beans have grown 15 cm high.

Notice: The beans are piled up for better stability.

maintenance

Meter beans are easy to care for. At the beginning, the shoots may have to be guided and tied to the climbing aids. Later, the plant will climb upwards on its own. The ground should be hoed now and then. Existing weeds are removed. A mulch layer not only protects against weeds, it also keeps the soil loose and moist.

water

Asparagus beans need enough water, especially at the beginning. When the top layer of soil has dried, the plants are watered. Later, care should be taken that the entire plant does not get wet when watering. It is enough if the root area remains moist. If asparagus beans are too dry, the pods become fibrous and hard. Waterlogging causes the roots to rot. Good soil aeration helps with nitrogen formation.

fertilizer

Like other legumes, snake beans have nodule bacteria on their roots that bind nitrogen from the air. An additional nitrogen-rich fertilizer is therefore not necessary. At best, some rock dust can be helpful to enrich the soil with minerals.

To harvest

Asparagus beans form long pods that are very tasty even when young. The beans are harvested before the seeds have fully formed, as can be seen from the small bulges in the pods. If the beans are harvested continuously, they always form new flowers and pods. You cannot keep beans fresh for long. They keep in the fridge for about 2 days. However, they taste best immediately after harvesting. Snake beans can be frozen, canned or dried well.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Vigna_unguiculata_subsp._sesquipedalis#/media/File:Long_Bean.JPG.webp

pests

snails

Snails appear particularly in very young plants and can cause great damage. If there are only a few young bean plants, however, it is sufficient to protect them with a snail collar. However, a snail fence protects the entire bed from snails and is easy to install. However, care must be taken to ensure that no other plants that are too large create a transition anywhere around the bed. The planting around the bean bed must therefore be kept as short as possible.

Black bean aphid

Another pest is the bean aphid, which gathers on the shoots and sucks plant juices there. A vigorous bean will tolerate a few aphids without harm, but if the pests get the upper hand, shoots or leaves will stun. Heavily infested shoots can be cut off the plant together with the lice.

bean fly

The bean fly is so dangerous because it affects the seedling, sometimes even the seed. The maggots bore holes in the seed and eat it from the inside out. The plants either do not germinate at all or only very slowly. The seedling usually dies immediately after emergence. Late sowing is helpful against the bean fly, because on the one hand they do not like high temperatures and on the other hand the beans then germinate faster. In addition, growing under glass protects against the bean fly.

Diseases

bean rust

In humid weather, fungal diseases can attack the beans. Bean rust first appears as white, later brown pustules. They appear on leaves and stems. It does not help to just cut off the affected parts of the plant. It is better if the entire bean is removed. It must not be composted, it belongs in the organic or household waste.

Source: Jerzy Opioła, Uromyces appendiculatus a1 (1), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

gray mold

Gray mold is less dangerous than bean rust, but it can affect very young plants if they are kept too moist. The fungus is characterized by whitish to greyish spots and a furry lawn on the leaves or stems. The affected parts can be cut off. The plant should be cultivated drier overall.

mixed culture

The asparagus bean grows well with cucumbers, cabbage, strawberries, beetroot, potatoes or tomatoes. However, care must be taken that they do not shadow other crops too much. However, other legumes, such as peas or leeks, are less suitable for cultivation in mixed cultures.

Notice: However, a mixed culture with savory should also help against pests.

crop rotation

Meter beans are weak consumers. In crop rotation, they are grown after middle eaters. They are followed by either green manure or heavy feeders, which are also supplied with manure or compost. The same applies to beans in mixed cultivation with other weak consumers. With other planting partners, however, you must also consider their properties.

Notice: Before and after beans, no other legumes are grown on the bed. Beans should only be put on the same bed again after 4 years.

frequently asked Questions

How can meter beans be prepared?

Unlike many other beans, snake beans can be eaten raw. Leaves and shoots are also edible, for example in salads. Like other vegetables, the asparagus bean can be boiled or pan-fried.

What else helps against pests or diseases?

Before resorting to chemical solutions, biological or home remedies should be tried first. Water or an increase in humidity often helps against lice and spider mites. Other animal pests are readily consumed by beneficial insects.

Can the asparagus bean be grown from your own seeds?

If it is a seed resistant variety, this is possible. Hybrid varieties are not suitable for further propagation because the properties of the daughter plants cannot be predicted. The seeds should mature on the plant and are then kept dry.

Does the snake bean need pruning measures?

Cutting the shoots is not necessary. At best, they can be shortened a little if they outgrow the trellis.

Category:

Vegetable garden