When is the latest planting time for hyacinth beans?
The hyacinth bean originated in southwestern Asia and the eastern Mediterranean region. It is suited to cool climates and is mostly grown in temperate and subtropical regions. In tropical regions it is often cultivated in the coldest season or at high altitudes. In China it is mainly produced in Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Yunnan, Sichuan and other places. Now let us take a look at the planting time for hyacinth beans!
Growth habits of the hyacinth bean
The suitable germination temperature for hyacinth bean seeds is 22-23°C. The plant can tolerate high temperatures of around 35°C. Its root system is well developed and strong, with strong drought tolerance, and it adapts well to various soils. Planting in well-drained, fertile sandy soil or loam can significantly increase yield.
Planting time of the hyacinth bean
Hyacinth beans are generally grown in open fields with trellises in summer. Sowing can usually begin successively after mid-January, but the sowing time differs by region. For example, in the Yangtze River basin the planting time for hyacinth beans is from May to the end of July, while in North China the planting time for hyacinth beans is mostly in June.
Planting techniques for the hyacinth bean
1. Planting with artificial trellises: Hyacinth beans are generally direct-sown. Land preparation and fertilizer application are the same as for the common bean (pole bean). The bed width is 133 cm, the height is 10-15 cm, and the ditch width is 50 cm. Two rows are planted per bed, with a row spacing of 70-80 cm and a plant spacing of 50 cm. For open-field cultivation, direct sowing is done in early to mid-April, with 3-4 seeds per hole, covering 3-4 seeds with soil, and about 3.5-4 kg of seed is needed per mu. After emergence, thin the seedlings so that each hole has 2 plants. After thinning, apply 500 kg of human manure per mu as a top dressing. When the vines are 35 cm long, set up A-shaped trellises and guide the vines onto them. During the fruiting period, apply top dressing twice, each time with 500 kg of human feces and urine. Cultivation and weeding are the same as for the common bean.
2. Cultivation without trellises: Early-maturing varieties of hyacinth beans are cultivated without trellises. First prepare the land and apply base fertilizer, make beds, and raise seedlings in a plastic shed cold frame. The seedling period is 30 days. Transplant in mid to late April, with row and plant spacing of 40 cm each, and plant 4 seedlings per hole. When the plant height is 50 cm, pinch off the growing tip leaving 40 cm, to encourage side branches. When secondary side branches grow from the leaf axils of the side branches, pinch again, for 4 consecutive times. After harvest, if tender branches still grow, pinching can continue, making the plant grow in a clumping form. The harvest period is in early July, with a yield of 800-1000 kg per mu.