How to manage cowpeas during the pod-setting stage? Key technical points explained

The scientific name of the yardlong bean is cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis); its pods are very long, so it is also called the long bean. It has a very good taste, especially the tender pods, which are crisp and delicious. In northern China it is already a widely popular vegetable, and surveys show that the popularity of yardlong beans ranks first in our country. The planting area is also growing larger and larger, so how to manage them has become the primary question for growers. Today the editor brings you the management methods for the pod-setting stage of yardlong beans.

1. Adjust the plants

Yardlong beans are climbing plants, so during growth there must be a trellis to serve as the support point for the vines to extend along, until the vines have climbed over the entire trellis. Then you must begin pinching out the growing tips and topping the vines, mainly to promote the growth of lateral branches. For branches with strong vigor that show excessive vegetative growth, reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizer and prune those branches, otherwise they will compete with the main vine for nutrients and affect growth. Remove the useless old, aged branches and leaves at the lower part of the plant and those invaded by disease, to improve air and light penetration.

2. Fertilizer and water management

Before planting yardlong beans, choose sandy soil that has not previously grown legume vegetables, then before sowing apply an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer per mu, together with a small amount of compound fertilizer; after applying, plow once every 5 days, for two rounds. Let the fertilizer mix completely with the soil to enhance soil fertility. The organic fertilizer is mainly farmyard manure, and an appropriate amount of microbial bacterial fertilizer can also be added to the fertilizer to effectively improve the conversion rate of the fertilizer and promote plant growth. Yardlong beans also have a high water requirement during growth, so we must also ensure water supply for their growth and development.

3. Spray foliar fertilizer

Spraying foliar fertilizer is a very important step in cultivation. As the growing period gradually enters summer, the temperature rises gradually, and the intensity of the sun also increases with the arrival of summer. Yardlong beans are not suited to growing in high-temperature environments, which reduces pod set and causes pod drop or premature aging. So at this time an appropriate amount of foliar fertilizer needs to be sprayed, which provides nutrients to the leaves while also effectively lowering the temperature; the specific spray amount depends on pod growth and pod set rate, and it is generally sprayed once a week.

4. Timely harvesting

Yardlong beans are also a perennial vegetable; the method for judging maturity can be based on flowering time, as they are basically mature about ten days after flowering. When picking, be careful to avoid damaging the flower buds, and do not pull the beans directly off the stalk, to prevent injury to the stalk that would affect later yield. Also, do not harvest when the temperature is relatively high; harvested beans should be kept hydrated promptly and sent to market for sale. The harvest time must not be too late, otherwise the beans become too old to eat and lose their value.

The above are the management methods for yardlong beans during the pod-setting stage. Pay special attention to the harvest time. If harvested too late, the beans gradually age and produce certain toxins. Friends who have watched a certain variety show know that eating overly old yardlong beans can cause poisoning in humans, so you must grasp the harvest time well to ensure your own economic interests are not harmed. That is all for today's introduction. To learn more wonderful information, please follow us!