A bean variety called "Black Eye" is becoming very popular. It meets all the requirements for a healthy diet, cooks quickly, and has a delicate and mild flavor. This product provides the body with healthy protein, vitamins, and other valuable nutrients. You can buy these beans at any store, but growing them yourself is much more rewarding. The process is simple, and even a novice gardener with minimal experience can handle it.
A bit of history
Black-eyed beans originated in India. The first mentions of this plant appear in documents dating back to 500 AD. They were first cultivated in other Asian countries. The popular product then reached South America. The plant was then transported to the United States. It is now one of the most popular foods in America.
After the American Civil War, a tasty, nutritious, and easily obtainable food was needed. Black-eyed beans became the answer. They're easy to grow, and their nutritional value and flavor rival those of meat.
You may be interested in:This legume was then transported from America to Europe and quickly spread there. Its beneficial properties for enriching soil with nitrogen were noted, and therefore it began to be grown to improve the yields of subsequent crops.
Description and characteristics of the variety
Black-eyed beans belong to the legume family. They are low-growing, herbaceous annuals, reaching a height of 30 cm. All major plant parts are very similar to other legumes. The only difference is the flower structure. Black-eyed beans have a curved corolla resembling the prow of a boat, while other bean varieties have a spiral shape.
Other characteristics of the variety:
- the plant reaches maturity 120 days after the first shoots emerge;
- This variety of beans prefers to grow in warm climates;
- the rate of bean ripening is almost independent of the amount of sunlight;
- This crop grows best in loamy soil, but it can be grown in sandy or clay soil;
- The yield of this variety reaches 3 kg per plant.
The benefits and harms of black-eyed beans
This legume is beneficial as a dietary food due to its high nutritional value. Its caloric value is 345 kcal. 100 g of beans contain:
- 55 g carbohydrates;
- 21 g protein;
- 2 g fat;
- 14 g of water.
The product's chemical composition includes ingredients such as phosphorus, iodine, iron, manganese, cobalt, sodium, and magnesium. Due to this beneficial composition, regularly including dishes made from this bean variety in the diet is beneficial for kidney and heart disease, as well as obesity. The diuretic effect of this plant is used to combat edema. It is used as an antipyretic, antibacterial, and wound healing agent. This legume normalizes water-salt balance in the body, improves genitourinary function, has a mild sedative effect, and stimulates digestion.
Not everyone can consume this legume in unlimited quantities. In some cases, the amount of this product is reduced to a minimum or even eliminated altogether. Beans should be included in your diet with caution if you have the following conditions:
- cholecystitis;
- nephritis;
- peptic ulcer;
- gout;
- gastritis.
You may be interested in:After age 60, it's recommended to reduce the amount of beans in your diet. However, you don't need to give them up completely.
Selection rules
When purchasing the Black Eye variety as seed material for subsequent cultivation, the condition of the beans is assessed according to the following rules:
- The beans must be the same size so that all the plants germinate and emerge at the same time.
- The skin on the grains must be intact, without damage or cracks.
- The skin color should be white, with a glossy sheen and a characteristic black spot on the side.
- The grains are selected smooth, without foreign growths and dirty spots.
- The beans should feel dry to the touch.
It's also important to pay attention to the shelf life of the beans. The beans retain their viability for 16 to 18 months.
Growing and care
Like other bean varieties, Black Eye is easy to grow at home in your garden or dacha. The site for this crop should be selected with crop rotation in mind. This plant cannot be grown permanently in the same spot. Beans can be replanted in the same area only after three years. Choose a site with good natural light and protection from cold winds.
In warm southern climates, beans are planted directly into the ground. In the central part of the country, this method doesn't produce a good harvest in a timely manner. Therefore, beans are grown from seedlings. The planting bed is prepared in advance. In the fall, the soil is tilled, simultaneously adding humus or manure. In the spring, the soil is tilled again, adding mineral fertilizers.
Before sowing, disinfect the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. Sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings into open ground is done only after the weather has fully warmed. The soil should be warmed to 15°C (59°F) at a depth of 10 cm. When planting, maintain a distance of 70 mm between individual plants in a row, and 80 cm between rows.
After emergence, care consists of timely watering of the beds. Between waterings, the soil is loosened shallowly to provide oxygen to the plant's root system. Weeds are regularly cleared from the plantings. As the young plants grow, they are supported with a taut net or twine to support the shoots. Before flowering, the soil is enriched with mineral fertilizers. 5 grams of potassium chloride and 15 grams of superphosphate are added per square meter.
You may be interested in:Harvesting and storage
Black-eyed beans can be harvested at the milky stage, using a shovel, or when fully ripe. In the former case, the pods are picked 45 days after the first shoots emerge. At this point, the seeds in the pods will be small, about the size of a grain of wheat.
Fully ripened seeds are picked when the pods dry and begin to open. The beans are then removed from the pods and stored or sold. The beans can then be used for food or as seed.
Ripe beans or unripe green beans can be stored. In the latter case, green beans are cut into pieces, placed in bags, and frozen. They can also be canned.
Dry beans are stored in glass jars or salt-soaked canvas bags. To prevent insects from infesting the beans, garlic cloves are added to the containers. The jars are tightly sealed with lids and stored in a cool, dry place. The storage temperature should be below 10°C (50°F), and the humidity should not exceed 30%. Under these conditions, the harvested crop will keep well for two years.
Pests and diseases
Black-eyed beans are almost immune to pests and diseases. They only become problematic if cultivation practices aren't followed. If crop rotation isn't followed and beans are replanted in the same spot, the root system becomes susceptible to nematode infestation.
During flowering, flower buds produce a lot of nectar, attracting bees and other insects. During this period, insecticides should not be used on plants, as they can harm the insects.
Uses of Black Eye Beans
Black-eyed beans contain arginine, which is beneficial for people with diabetes. Regular consumption of black-eyed beans gradually normalizes the body's metabolic processes. A decoction of the beans helps treat:
- urolithiasis;
- inflammatory processes in the bladder;
- rheumatoid arthritis.
In cosmetology, boiled beans are used to make cosmetic masks. They help improve the condition of the skin, cleanse pores, rejuvenate, and smooth fine lines. If you have unwanted pigmentation, bean masks even out your skin tone.
Black-eyed beans are most often used in cooking. They are used in soups, main courses, and salads. They are also canned and used for winter storage.
Okroshka with beans
This dish is a twist on traditional okroshka. It's delicious and nutritious. It's easy to prepare and suitable for novice cooks.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Black Eye Beans;
- 6 small cucumbers;
- 100 g radish;
- 3 eggs;
- 300 g boiled chicken;
- 1.5 liters of mineral water or kvass;
- 1 bunch of greens;
- lemon juice to taste.
How to cook:
Rinse the beans and boil them for 40 minutes. Meanwhile, hard-boil the eggs in another saucepan. Let the cooked ingredients cool slightly. Cut the remaining vegetables and chicken into small pieces and add them to the saucepan. Cut the eggs into small cubes or large wedges. Add them along with the boiled beans to the saucepan with the remaining ingredients. Mix everything together and add kvass or mineral water. When serving, add a little lemon juice and sprinkle with chopped herbs.
Beef salad
This traditional Georgian dish uses beans, hot peppers, herbs, and khmeli-suneli. It takes little time to prepare, but the result is a delicious and nutritious salad.
Ingredients:
- 300 g pre-boiled black eye beans;
- 300 g boiled lean beef;
- 1 large red onion;
- 1 piece sweet red pepper;
- 1 hot chili pepper;
- 50 g peeled walnuts;
- 4 cloves of garlic;
- 1 tbsp. wine vinegar;
- 3 tbsp. l. olive oil;
- 1 bunch of cilantro;
- hops-suneli to taste;
- salt, ground black pepper to taste.
How to cook:
The meat is sliced into thin strips. The onion and bell pepper are cut into half rings. The hot pepper is seeded and finely chopped, mixed with ground garlic and chopped herbs. The walnuts are finely chopped and toasted in a dry frying pan.
Place the boiled beans in a salad bowl. Add all the other ingredients next. Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste, and add hops-suneli. For the dressing, combine olive oil and wine vinegar. Dress the salad and toss well.
Reviews
Evgeniya, 38 years old
Black-eyed beans grow well simply by sowing dry seeds in the ground. They're great because they're insect-resistant. When grown properly, they yield a bountiful harvest. I've frozen them green and use them as needed for various dishes.
Elena, 45 years old
I haven't grown this bean variety myself. In our climate, they need to be planted as seedlings, which is a lot of work. I buy pre-packaged beans at the store. These beans make delicious Georgian lobio and vegetable salads.
In conclusion
Black-eyed beans are great because they don't require long cooking or soaking before cooking. They're virtually fat-free and ideal for a diet. Regular consumption of these beans can help you lose weight and improve your well-being.
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