The Year of Beans & Peas

College of Agriculture 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 flowers Photo: Luke Gustafson

Beans popular in Asian cuisine Soybean Yard-long bean Sword bean Winged bean

‘Sugar Snap’ peas Photo: Kent Phillips Two snow pea varieties Photo: 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 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 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 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) 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 pods Photo: Entomolgy Dept., UFL

2 nd to 5 th 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. 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! – We have all types of practical food gardening tips and information. Check out our popular blog! Home and Garden Information Center – 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 Program – Consider becoming a trained MG volunteer!

This program was brought to you by the Maryland Master Gardener Program ______ County University of Maryland Extension