When Is the Best Time to Plant Winged Beans? A Detailed Guide to Planting Time and Methods
Winged beans are generally sown from March to May. In the Shijiazhuang area, they are sown from late April to early May. Before sowing, winged bean seeds should be sun-dried, soaked and pre-germinated; they can be sown once the sprouts do not exceed 2 mm. Water thoroughly before sowing, place 2 seeds per hole, and determine the sowing depth according to the sowing method (about 2 cm for seedling raising in protected cultivation, about 3 cm under plastic mulch in open fields, and about 4 cm in open fields in spring).
I. Basic Information About Winged Beans
1. Name
The scientific name of the winged bean is Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, also known as the four-angled bean, Goa bean, winged pea, asparagus pea, princess bean, Manila bean, and so on. It is a short-day plant.
2. Place of Origin
It is cultivated in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan and Taiwan, China. Its place of origin may be tropical Asia, and it is now cultivated in southern Asia, Oceania, Africa and other places.
II. Planting Management of Winged Beans
1. Temperature and Light Management
The most suitable day length for winged bean growth is 11-12 hours. It likes sufficient light, and growth is poor with insufficient light. It likes a warm and humid climate and is not tolerant of frost. It grows well at temperatures of 20-25 degrees C, grows poorly below 15 degrees C or above 35 degrees C, and the optimum temperature for seed germination is around 25 degrees C.
2. Water and Fertilizer Management
Throughout the vegetative growth period of winged beans, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer should be controlled to avoid excessive vine growth, which would affect flowering and pod setting. However, once it enters the growth period, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be applied heavily, especially with a key topdressing at the beginning of budding and flowering.
3. Other Matters
During the seedling stage, thinning and replanting measures should be carried out to ensure a full stand of strong seedlings. 7-8 days after sowing, the seedlings emerge one after another, so check the seedlings and replant in time to ensure a full stand. When the seedlings have 7-8 leaves, remove weak and deformed seedlings and keep strong ones, retaining 1-2 seedlings per hole. After emergence, 1-2 shallow cultivations should be carried out along with weeding, and soil should be earthed up around the plants after weeding.
The winged bean is a plant used both as food and medicine and has relatively high economic value. Friends looking for a planting project might want to consider it.