Types and varieties of beans: their names, descriptions, and photos

A representative of the legume familybeans This ancient plant ranks second among legumes in nutritional content. Merchants brought it to Russia from Turkey as an ornamental flower in the sixteenth century. It wasn't until 200 years later that it began to be grown for food. What types and varieties of this grain vegetable exist today?

Main characteristics

The legume is the most widespread crop of its genus and an important food source. Beans come in several species and many varieties, differing in the structure of the fruit, leaf color, and grain color. Both the beans and the pods are used as food.

The crop is distinguished by green (sometimes with white speckles) trifoliate compound leaves that are located on long stalks. The bean seeds are located in two connected thin valves without an internal longitudinal septum. The seeds are attached to the ventral suture of the pod by short seed stalks. The color of the fruit depends on the variety and can be white, red, or even bluish-black.

Ripe berries contain all the B vitamins, making them an essential part of a healthy diet, especially for pregnant women. Furthermore, the seeds contain 20 amino acids involved in protein synthesis. When consumed:

• cholesterol levels decrease;
• hematopoiesis improves;
• sugar levels are stabilized;
• hemoglobin is produced;
• the nervous system is normalized;
• energy increases.

Types of legumes

Botanists have discovered approximately 200 species of the crop, and plant breeders have created over fifty more varieties and hybrids of grain and asparagus beans. The crop is divided into two groups:

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1. American. Common in Europe, Russia, and America. Plants in this group are distinguished by their short horns with large grains and a small "nose."
2. Asian bean. A type of bean characterized by very long stems and small grains. The plant is primarily cultivated in Asian countries. It is not widely grown in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Differences in the structure of the bush

Based on the nature of growth, botanists distinguish the culture as:

• Bushy, with compact, low-growing bushes no more than 70 cm tall. Varieties and hybrids are suitable for field cultivation. They are characterized by early fruiting and a single harvest, and they easily tolerate harsh climatic conditions. Therefore, they are suitable for growing in regions with harsh climates.
• Semi-climbing, characterized by stems growing up to 1.2 m–1.5 m in height. This crop is grown both with and without supports. Varieties and hybrids are suitable for cultivation in small garden plots in all regions;
• A climbing plant with stems reaching 5.2–5.8 m. The advantage of this vine is that when planted, it not only saves space in small areas but also adds beauty. It also has a long growing season. Therefore, it is not recommended for cultivation in regions with unfavorable weather conditions.

Difference from the method of application

Depending on the usage, the culture differs as:

• shelling, in which only the kernels are used as food. The valves of such horns are very hard, but the fruits are very nutritious. All varieties of grain beans are stored up to six to eight years;
• A green bean whose pods are free of coarse fibers on the surface. They are used for cooking as whole pods. At the technical maturity stage, the pods are not eaten. Some varieties of green beans reach only 30 cm-40 cm during the growing season, while others reach up to 2.5 meters.
• Semi-sweet, not immediately forming a rough, transparent film on the inside of the fruit. Young pods lack fibers, so they can be eaten like asparagus. However, when technically ripe, the pods become coarse and inedible. These varieties and hybrids are considered universal, as both the unripe pods and the ripe beans are eaten.
• Chinese cowpea (Vigna), which differs from the common legume by its large flower stalks that grow only upward. It has robust foliage and long pods, reaching 65 cm. The beans are used for cooking, canning, and treating gastrointestinal and kidney disorders. They are not eaten raw.

Difference in color

Bean varieties come in a variety of colors. What shades do beans come in? The beans can be snow-white, yellow-green, cherry, or purple-black. Moreover, depending on the color, the nutritional value of the beans varies slightly. For example:

• Yellow and white green beans reduce body fat. They contain calcium, magnesium, complex carbohydrates, and fiber. When boiled, they cook quickly and don't cause severe bloating.
• Cherry variegated beans, which rejuvenate the body, restore metabolism, improve stomach function, and detoxify the body. They contain complex carbohydrates, vitamins, antioxidants, and amino acids, which are essential for excellent health and cannot be produced by the human body on its own.
• Black beans, which contain a large amount of fiber, accelerate the synthesis of lipase in adipose tissue, prevent gallstone formation, and help prevent hemorrhoids and constipation;
• Green and yellow beans are high in vitamin K. Consuming this product improves calcium metabolism in the body, restores bone tissue, and prevents the development of skeletal pathologies.

Timing of sowing and ripening of vegetables

To reap a good harvest from a bean plant, you need to create favorable conditions for its growth and development. Each bean variety or hybrid thrives only at temperatures of at least 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit). Furthermore, to grow a healthy plant, it's important to select a well-lit area. Because the crop is frost-intolerant, sowing begins in early May. Planting seeds before this time will result in the death of the sprouted seedlings.

Vegetable harvesting depends on the crop type and the characteristics of each variety. Sweet and green beans can be harvested fifteen days after flowering, at the milky stage of ripeness. Shelling varieties should be harvested at the technical stage, after the pods have wilted. For early varieties, this period is 62-76 days, and for mid-late varieties, 77-92 days after sowing.

Bean varieties for growing in different regions: table

Growing techniques don't vary much depending on climate zone. The only differences are in sowing and harvesting times. Each region has a variety or hybrid suitable for ripening at the right time. It's worth noting that bush beans are an easy-to-grow variety, suitable for both central Russia and Siberia. Late-ripening varieties and hybrids grow well in risky farming regions only under plastic or arched shelters. The bean varieties described in the table, with photos and names, will help farmers and gardeners choose the best option.

Reviews

Gardeners who grow beans in their plots share their impressions. Here are a few reviews:

Evgeny, Norilsk

In our cold and challenging climate, it's difficult to grow vegetables without cover. However, my wife and I decided to plant beans suitable for growing in Siberian regions. After looking at numerous photos of beans online and choosing their names, we chose the Saxa and Lastochka varieties. We haven't regretted our choice, as we harvested a decent bean crop even without covering the plants with plastic.

Marina Krasnodar

My husband and I bought a dacha in the suburbs of Krasnodar, where we grew a variety of vegetables. However, since we only visited the dacha once a week, our vegetable harvest was small. Recently, a neighbor gave us Rubin bean plants to plant, promising that we would have a harvest even without water. One and a half months have passed since we planted the seeds. The planted pods have produced a large number of pods, even without sufficient watering. So, we will definitely have a harvest.

To achieve a decent bean harvest, it's important not only to master the proper growing techniques for the vegetable, but also to select a variety or hybrid suitable for cultivation in a specific region.