Hello
Would love to venture into commercial beans farming in siaya. Please advice on the weather, soil type, and any other important things to note
Hello Mr. Oyugi here below are essential guides for growing beans
ECOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Soil– bean crop thrives in a well-drained soil which is rich in organic matter, weed free and has an optimum PH of 6.5-7.5. Growth is poor in waterlogged soils.
- Altitude– the crop does well at an optimum altitude range of up to between 1000-2100M ASL. It however tends to grow and mature faster in low altitude zones.
- Rainfall– a well distributed annual rainfall of between 800-2000mm is suitable for the rain fed production. Irrigation should be done if rainfall is inadequate. Too much rain or long dry spells are not conducive and reduces yields. Excessive rainfall during flowering causes flower abortion and increased disease incidences. Dry weather conditions are needed during harvesting.
- Temperature– beans grow in temperatures ranging from 15-33 degree centigrade. However, an optimum growing temperature of 20-25 degrees centigrade is essential. Relatively high temperatures affect flowering and pod setting processes. The crop is very sensitive to frost.
PLANTING
Propagation is by seeds.
It is advisable to use certified seeds or those that are disease free. Wrinkled, damaged and diseased seeds should not be planted.
Planting should be done at the onset of the rains if production is rain fed. Delay in sowing may lead to crop failure or reduced yield.
Seeds are planted at a spacing of 40
15cm (2seeds per hill) or 3015cm (1seed per hill), at a depth of 1-2 inches.
The crop can be intercropped with others like maize.
Seeds germinate within 4-7days, depending on the variety and environmental factors.
NB; Do not plant beans where soil Nitrogen is too high or where green manure crops were grown. This is because, the crops will produce green foliage with very few beans.
