Description of the Vigna bean variety: cultivation features and yield

The Vigna variety is a new development in bean breeding. Its cultivation ranges from central Russia to the Ural Mountains. It is an annual herbaceous plant. It grows as a low-growing to climbing bush. It is especially beautiful when the flowers bloom. The stems of this vine can reach up to 4 meters. The clusters form into pencil-thin runners. A single plant can yield up to 4 kg.

Description and characteristics

Cowpeas are considered one of the most widely grown crops. They contain a high amount of protein, making them a popular choice for healthy eating. While similar in structure to asparagus, cowpeas are not related.

The main advantages of Vigna asparagus beans include:

• the variety has increased productivity;
• undemanding to care measures;
• the pods are quite juicy, dense and tasty;
• can grow in shady areas;
• quite versatile in cooking;
• permitted for use in dietary nutrition;
• contains many nutrients.

The variety has no particular drawbacks. Gardeners choose it for its low maintenance and relatively high yield.

Vines can reach up to 4 meters, as shown in the photo. When fruiting, the branches are quite heavy and require a firm base. They are often used to decorate gazebos and verandas.

In China, breeders have developed several varieties with long, veinless blades. Cowpea thrives in warmth but can also grow in shade.

Popular varieties

Gardeners often plant asparagus varieties of cowpea, which lack tough fiber and have a rather delicate flavor.

Frequently planted varieties:

1. Darla. A semi-bush variety. The pods are 30 to 40 cm long. The yield per bush reaches 3 kg. The fruits are rich in protein, carbohydrates, and micronutrients. Disease-resistant.
2. Makaretti is an early-ripening variety, bearing fruit 80 days after planting. The bush often grows up to 3 meters tall, with a climbing habit. The pods are curved, about 30 cm long. The seeds are brown and kidney-shaped. A single bush can yield up to 3 kg of fruit.
3. Arzuki. This variety reaches 50 cm in height, is angular, and the fruits are 5-8 mm in size. The pods are glabrous and up to 15 cm long. It contains a high amount of complex carbohydrates, protein, and starch. It has a delicate, slightly sweet flavor. It can only be eaten cooked.
4. Countess has a medium ripening period. The pods reach 50 cm. It is easy to grow and requires little care. The pods are fiberless. The seeds are black. It is a heat-loving plant, with the optimal cultivation temperature being 30-35 degrees Celsius. Technical maturity occurs in 60 days from the emergence of the first shoots. It can be used in soups and salads.
5. Mung bean. Characterized by a stiff, branched stem up to 1.5 meters tall with large leaves and stipules. The pods are multi-seeded, up to 20 cm long. The beans themselves are smooth, yellow, sometimes with dark spots.
6. The Chinese variety is an early-ripening variety. The beans grow to 12 cm in length. Easy to grow.

Planting and growing in open ground

The Vigna variety is undemanding in terms of soil and relatively easy to grow. Support is essential for planting, care, and cultivation. The plant's stems are quite tall. Trellis should be erected around the beds. Well-drained and fairly loose soil is desirable. The variety is not fussy about soil acidity. However, loamy and sandy loam soils are preferred. If the soil is heavy, sand can be added to dilute it. Legumes should not be used as predecessors to Vigna, as they are susceptible to similar diseases.

Before planting, the beds should be dug over and all weeds removed. Then, mineral fertilizers should be applied. In the fall, when preparing the beds for spring planting, potassium and phosphorus should be added. In the spring, nitrogen-containing fertilizers should be added. Ammonium nitrate should be applied at a rate of 10 grams per square meter. Manganese sulfate can also be added. These micronutrients will lead to increased yields.

Before planting, soak the seeds for a few minutes. You can also soak them in Fitosporin. Plant 2-3 seeds per seedling pot. Cover the seeds to a depth of 1 cm. To speed up germination, cover the seedling trays with glass. Water the soil thoroughly until seedlings emerge. Do not fertilize the plants at first. After seedlings emerge, watering can be reduced.

Transplanting

Seedlings can be planted as soon as the danger of frost has passed. Before planting, the soil must be moistened. Cowpeas are planted in rows, spaced 50 cm apart. To protect against frost, the bed can be covered with a mat. If you are planting beans outdoors from seeds, do so in late May. Place the seeds no deeper than 5 cm. When seedlings emerge, select one plant and remove the others.

Seeds should be sown for seedlings in late April. In open ground, seeds are planted around May 20th, as soon as the threat of frost has passed.

Cowpeas are a short-day crop. They need no more than 12 hours of sunlight per day. Shorter days encourage more vigorous plant growth and accelerate pod ripening.

Plant care during the growing season

Beans don't require any special care. When planting the seeds, add compost or aged manure to the soil. During the budding period, the beans should be fed with mineral fertilizers (sodium superphosphate - 15 grams per square meter or potassium - 5 grams per square meter).

Fertilizers containing molybdenum stimulate plant growth, increase yields, increase sugar levels, and promote faster flowering.

Cowpea is a self-pollinating plant. The flower remains closed during pollination. When hot and dry weather sets in, the flower may open, allowing for non-contact cross-pollination with neighboring legumes. This should be taken into account when collecting seeds for subsequent plantings.

Climbing bean varieties require support. You can use stakes or a homemade trellis for this. After the stems emerge, the ends of the supports are connected together, creating a tent-like structure. This structure is wind-resistant and promotes a good harvest.

You can use a net for climbing plants. Throughout the growing season, the stems should be guided along the support, and side shoots should be pinched periodically. To improve plant growth, mulch the soil periodically.

Further care and harvesting

Initially, after planting seedlings or seeds, the soil should be regularly moistened. Water every other day when the first shoots emerge. Use warm water for this. Then, water as needed when the topsoil has dried out. Apply 0.7-1 liter of water per plant.

During the growing season, the plant requires several fertilizing sessions, best combined with watering. The first one is applied four weeks after the first shoots emerge. Young plants have a strong need for nitrogen. Subsequent fertilizing sessions should be performed based on the condition of the plants.

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Prepare the fertilizer composition as follows:

1. For every 10th bucket of water, take 5 grams of potassium chloride and 15 grams of superphosphate.
2. Potassium can be replaced with 100 grams of ash.
3. Make a furrow along the rows and pour the mixture over them.
4. Mulch with soil and loosen.

The most common pests of beans are slugs. To control them and prevent their reappearance, bean beds should be weeded regularly. Slugs should be removed by hand and beer-based traps should be used.

Harvesting depends on the purpose for which the beans are grown. Bean pods should not be allowed to overripe. Cowpeas can be harvested as soon as the pods have grown a little; they are ready for consumption. Storing beans The process involves freezing it. To determine the degree of ripeness, the pod is broken open. If the cut is smooth and free of fibers, the harvest is ready.

Benefits of Vigna and Treatment

The vegetable is high in sodium and potassium, which helps remove excess fluid from the organs. Cowpea also stimulates the heart and cardiovascular system. Beans are considered a dietary food, making them popular among dieters. Cowpea is regularly used in folk medicine. For those with diabetes, drinking a decoction of the vegetable pods is beneficial. The high arginine content acts as insulin for the body, improving blood quality.

Also, beans should not be consumed if you have an individual intolerance to the product.

Cowpea in cooking

There are many dishes in which beans can be used. Both the beans and the empty pods are eaten. Cowpeas are used in salads, soups, and main courses. The food is easy to prepare, healthy, and delicious. Young beans are used in cooking, including in stews and braised meats. The pods can be canned and frozen.

The pods can be pickled for the winter. To do this, you will need:

• 600 g tomatoes;
• 200 g onions;
• 200 g carrots;
• 0.5 kg cowpea;
• a few cloves of garlic;
• a little salt and granulated sugar.

How to cook:

1. All ingredients should be mixed and fried in a pan.
2. Add a little water and simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes.
3. Place the stewed mixture into sterile jars and seal with lids.
4. Keep the jars in a warm place for 24 hours.
5. This salad should be stored for 7-8 months in a cool place.

Reviews

People leave reviews about the use of beans, which allows us to draw conclusions about this product.

Maria, 28 years old.

I've been eating cowpeas for over six months. I used to suffer from bladder problems. After eating the beans, the pain went away, and my test results were all good.

Natalia, 31 years old.

I'm overweight. It used to be hard to find low-calorie foods. Since I discovered beans, my life has changed for the better. I can eat as much as I want without gaining weight.

Cowpea is a healthy and tasty vegetable crop. Climbing plants are often used as decoration. Its cultivation is gaining popularity every year. Most people include it in their diets for added variety.