2015 - the year of beans & peas. college of agriculture and natural resources
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2015 - The Year of Beans & Peas
College ofAgriculture and Natural Resources
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
These are all members of the Leguminosae (a.k.a Fabaceae) plant family and are referred to as legumes
‘Borlotto’, an heirloom shell bean
Other edible legumes
• Garbanzo bean (chickpea)• Lablab (hyacinth) bean• Tepary bean• Pigeonpea• Lentil• Fava bean
Fava bean flowersPhoto: Luke Gustafson
Beans popular in Asian cuisine• Soybean
• Yard-long bean
• Sword bean
• Winged bean
‘Sugar Snap’ peasPhoto: Kent Phillips
Two snow pea varietiesPhoto: Erica Smith
Add pea flowers and shoots to salads
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 (bacteria) occur naturally in soil. They infect legume roots and form a symbiotic relationship
• Plant forms protective nodules around multiplying bacteria• N2 gas is transformed by rhizobia into ammonia (NH3) that
plant cells use to make plant compounds (especially proteins)
• Red or pink color in nodule cross-section indicates that rhizobia are active
Rhizobia nodules
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 rowPhoto: 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)
Lady beetle larva
Orb-weaver spider Assasin bug
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?
#2: Night-feeding beetles!
Bean leaf beetle
Oriental beetle
#3: Japanese beetle populations were high in 2014 and could be a problem in 2015.
#4: Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)
Injury image from plantManagementnetwork.org
Eggs and young nymphs
Adults feeding on bean podsPhoto: Entomolgy Dept., UFL
2nd to 5th instar BMSB
USDA ARS
“Stippling” symptom during hot, dry weather?
Look at leaf undersides for spider mites.
#5: Spider mites
European red mites on leaf underside
#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
Enviromesh protects crops from insects and wildlife
Floating row cover supported by #9 wire above; bird netting supported by pvc pipe below
Resources
• Grow It! Eat It!http://www.extension.umd.edu/growit
– We have all types of practical food gardening tips and information. Check out our popular blog!
• Home and Garden Information Centerhttp://www.extension.umd.edu/hgic
– Here you will find factsheets, photos, and videos. You can also subscribe to the free monthly e-newsletter.
– We answer gardening questions 24/7…just click “Ask Maryland’s Garden Experts”
• Maryland Master Gardener Programhttp://www.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