The Best Time and Method for Pinching the Tips of Yardlong Beans Explained in Detail

There are quite a lot of vegetable varieties grown in rural areas, and basically every household grows yardlong beans. Whether stir-fried or pickled, yardlong beans taste great. During the growth of yardlong beans, the tips need to be pinched off, which helps increase the yield. So when is the best time to pinch them, and how should it be done? Let's take a look together.

1. Timing of Pinching the Tips

 Pinching the tips of yardlong beans is done in two steps. First, we need to understand the purpose of pinching. The first pinching is done when the plant is about 70 cm tall. At this point, pinching is meant to prevent excessive vegetative growth and encourage more branching. For yardlong beans to have a high yield, how could too few branches work? So this first pinching is mainly to encourage more branching. The second pinching is done when the top of the yardlong bean plant is about 30 cm from the greenhouse film. This pinching is meant to make nutrients flow back, promote reproductive growth, and stop the plant from growing more vines instead of flower buds. After that, whenever new branches grow up again, no matter how many there are, once they reach 30 cm from the greenhouse film, they are all pinched off. If they cluster at the top, it will affect light exposure and have a considerable impact on yield.

2. Method of Pinching the Tips

When the yardlong bean plant grows to 80 cm, first find the main vine, then pinch off the tip at the top of the main vine to control plant height and encourage more side branches to develop from the lower part. After the side vines flower and set pods, more branches will also grow out, and at this time pinching should also be done. If the yardlong bean trellis is too high, you can use a bamboo pole to reach up and remove the top tips, which has the same effect. Using tip-pinching techniques on yardlong beans generally increases yield by more than 20%. This method is known to older farmers in rural areas, and friends who are interested may as well give it a try.

3. Points to Note

The vines of yardlong beans have very strong growth vigor. If they are not managed in time, the vines will consume too many nutrients and reduce flowering and pod setting. Pinching the tips can reduce apical dominance, shift vegetative growth toward reproductive growth, and encourage more side vines, more flowers, and more pods, thus increasing yield. Yardlong beans grow very quickly, and ineffective side branches on the stems and vines should be pruned in time. You can also harvest and pinch the tips at the same time, which not only saves time but also helps with yield. However, one point to note is that not all yardlong beans are suitable for tip pinching. Pole-type long beans that are grown on trellises should be pinched, but some varieties do not need trellising, so they do not need tip pinching.

The above is an introduction to the timing and methods for pinching the tips of yardlong beans. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.