2015 - The Year of Beans & Peas
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources 2
Garden to table!
All in the family Green bean (bush and pole) Lima bean (bush and pole) Shell beans Garden pea/edible pod pea Cowpea Soybean Scarlet runner bean Peanut Borlotto, an heirloom shell bean These are all members of the Leguminosae (a.k.a Fabaceae) plant family and are referred to as legumes
Other edible legumes Garbanzo bean (chickpea) Lablab (hyacinth) bean Tepary bean Pigeonpea Lentil Fava bean Fava bean flowers Photo: Luke Gustafson
Beans popular in Asian cuisine Soybean Yard-long bean Sword bean Winged bean
Two snow pea varieties Photo: Erica Smith Add pea flowers and shoots to salads Sugar Snap peas Photo: Kent Phillips
Reasons to grow legumes Most grow well in MD; good beginner crop Lots of different types You get a lot from a small space Multiple crops each season Easy to save seed Can be frozen, canned, pickled, and dried Fix nitrogen from the air
N-fixation Rhizobia nodules Rhizobia (bacteria) occur naturally in soil. They infect legume roots and form a symbiotic relationship Plant forms protective nodules around multiplying bacteria N 2 gas is transformed by rhizobia into ammonia (NH 3 ) that plant cells use to make plant compounds (especially proteins) Red or pink color in nodule cross-section indicates that rhizobia are active
Inoculation can increase yield
And they are pretty!
Planting basics Full sun location: 6-8 hours of direct sunlight 6-8 inches of loose, fertile soil Start planting beans in late April/early May; bush beans can be planted up to early July Plant peas (cool-season crop) in March/April for June harvest. Difficult to grow a fall crop Note: seeds may rot if planted in cold, wet soil
Planting tips Drag a stick or tool through the soil to make a shallow furrow Drop seeds every 1-4 inches (follow packet instructions) Cover with soil (½-inch in spring and 1-inch in summer). Press down to make good seed-soil contact To save space, plant bush beans and snap peas in short rows 1-2 feet apart
Get a head start Soak seeds in water overnight prior to planting Pre-germinate seeds indoors on moist paper towels Start seeds indoors and set out transplants
Growing tips Apply nutrients according to soil test results. Nitrogen is nutrient most often in short supply Water your planted seeds and young plants if needed. Don t let them get water-stressed! Remove weeds by hand or with a hoe or weeder. A layer of organic mulch will prevent weeds and keep the soil moist and cool in summer Pick pods as soon as they are ready. This stimulates new flower and pod growth
If possible, install drip irrigation: it saves time and water Tatsoi plants in a bed with a drip line for each row Photo: Kent Phillips
If possible, use vertical space Increase yields per sq. ft. Easier to water, fertilize and harvest. Adds complex texture to garden; use shaded side for lettuce and spinach
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Organic pesticides are a last resort Plant flowering plants in and around the garden that provide nectar and pollen for beneficial insects that eat pest insects. Examples: mountain mint, anise hyssop (left), thyme, oregano, basil, dill, yarrow, aster, marigold, zinnia, alyssum, phlox, bee balm, milkweeds, butterfly weed, borage, salvias, lamb s ear
Biological control Give mother nature a chance! Predators eat pests Parasitoids lay their eggs on or in pests; larvae consume the host
Some natural predators (good guys) Orb-weaver spider Assasin bug Lady beetle larva Mantid eating a stink bug
Some bean plant enemies (bad guys) #1: Mexican bean beetle- skeletonizer Adult, larva, and egg mass
Who has been eating my leaves at night?
Bean leaf beetle #2: Night-feeding beetles! Oriental beetle
#3: Japanese beetle populations were high in 2014 and could be a problem in 2015.
#4: Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) Eggs and young nymphs Adults feeding on bean pods Photo: Entomolgy Dept., UFL Injury image from plantmanagementnetwork.org
2 nd to 5 th instar BMSB USDA ARS
Stippling symptom during hot, dry weather? Look at leaf undersides for spider mites.
European red mites on leaf underside #5: Spider mites
#6: The kudzu bug, an exotic invasive pest, has arrived- late season feeding possible on all garden beans. http://mdkudzubug.org/ Top photos (eggs and nymphs): Joe Eger, Dow Agrociences, Bugwood.org Right photo (adult): Alan Leslie, UM
Organic management Grow healthy plants with the right amounts of sun, space, water, nutrients Improve soil quality with organic matter Remove weeds; clean up and compost garden residues Handpick insect pests and remove damaged and diseased leaves Only use organic pesticides as a last resort. Don t spray when flowers are open Try using floating row covers
Floating row covers First line of defense against spring frost Hastens germination and promotes early growth Excludes pests- rabbits, birds, deer, beetles, etc. Can be left on for entire lifecycle of early bean or pea plants Note: can trap excessive heat and damage plants after July
Floating row cover supported by #9 wire above; bird netting supported by pvc pipe below Enviromesh protects crops from insects and wildlife
Resources Grow It! Eat It! extension.umd.edu/growit We have all types of practical food gardening tips and information. Check out our popular blog! Home and Garden Information Center extension.umd.edu/hgic Check out the factsheets, photos, videos, social media. Subscribe to the free monthly e-newsletter. We answer gardening questions 24/7 just click Ask Maryland s Garden Experts Maryland Master Gardener Program extension.umd.edu/mg Consider becoming a trained MG volunteer!
This program was brought to you by the Maryland Master Gardener Program County University of Maryland Extension