Long beans, also known as yard-long beans or asparagus beans, are a delightful addition to any home garden. Their delicious taste and easy-to-grow nature make them a perfect choice for container gardening. Follow these steps to cultivate your own thriving long bean plants in containers:
Step 1: Seed Preparation
- Soaking the Seeds: Begin by soaking the long bean seeds in water for 24 hours. This helps soften the seed coat and jumpstarts the germination process.
Step 2: Seedling Containers
- Prepare Seedling Containers: Take seedling containers and place two long bean seeds along with two aloe vera cuts in each container. Cover them lightly with soil and keep the containers moist.
Step 3: Compost Preparation
- Prepare Growing Containers: After seven days of seed incubation, prepare a compost mix. Use 60% soil, 20% vermicompost, and 20% rice husks for the growing containers (recycled buckets in this case).
Step 4: Planting Seedlings
- Incorporate Trichoderma: Add Trichoderma to the compost mix in the containers, then plant the prepared long bean seedlings.
Step 5: Creating Support
- Support Structure: Place a 5-feet (1.5 meters) long wood stick in each bucket. Use smaller sticks to create a grid-like support system, allowing the plants to climb and grow.
Step 6: Fertilization and Maintenance
- Initial Fertilization: Upon planting the seedlings in the buckets, use a balanced fertilizer or organic compost-rich soil mix to provide nutrients. This serves as the first fertilization.
- Second Fertilization: After approximately 25 days from the first fertilization, fertilize the plants with a mixture of kitchen waste and vermicompost to enhance soil nutrition.
- Third Fertilization: Around 25 days after the second fertilization, add watermelon waste to each bucket and cover it with more compost to sustain plant growth and nourishment.
Step 7: Harvesting
- Harvesting Long Beans: Approximately 95-100 days after planting, your long beans should be fully grown and ready for harvest.
By following these adjusted steps and providing proper care, you can enjoy a bountiful supply of home-grown long beans in your container garden. Happy gardening!