Beans are a valuable crop that has been cultivated by Russian gardeners for a long time, because it provides high-protein plant food. However, our domestic farmers have undeservedly forgotten an ornamental variety, which, although it does not allow harvesting, can, however, greatly decorate any plot. Caring for it is not burdensome, and it does not require a large area to grow. In this material we will talk about how decorative climbing beans grow, planting and caring for which will bring pleasure to any avid gardener.
Decorative climbing beans: planting and care
Varieties of climbing decorative beans
If you want to decorate your area, but don’t want to bother with capricious ornamental crops, climbing beans are the best way out. This plant effectively weaves around any surface, successfully climbing to heights, for example:
- trellises;
- facade of a house or other building;
- site fence.
Its flowers have exceptionally bright colors that immediately catch the eye. The following shades are especially loved by domestic gardeners:
- violet;
- scarlet.
These shades of flowers can provide you with different varieties. Let's look at the most popular among them.
Russian gardeners especially value varieties of ornamental beans that produce large purple and red flowers.
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trellis for plants
Bean varieties that bloom with purple flowers
In this section we will look at decorative climbing beans, which:
- has a purple tint to the flowers;
- does not produce edible fruits;
- can be eaten.
So let's get started.
Variety No. 1 – “Violetta”
Violetta is a variety belonging to the early ripening category. The lashes of this plant are long; after flowering, they are covered with pods of medium size and bright color, which are characterized by:
- softness;
- juiciness.
These fruits are suitable for consumption and go well in soups, salads and hot dishes, but you cannot prepare beans from them for the winter.
Decorative variety "Violetta"
Variety No. 2 – “Bluehilda”
This varietal variety also belongs to early ripening plants, and the length of its branches is even longer than that of “Violetta”. Flowering begins approximately 60 days after planting in the ground. In addition to the purple hue of the flowers, the eye will be pleased with the similar deep color of the pods.
Bluehilda bean pods
Variety No. 3 – “Ash Queen”
The desired variety of decorative beans requires only 50 days from the moment of germination until the harvest ripens. Interestingly, it is often used for its food component, as it produces twisted purple pods that can reach up to 18-20 centimeters in length.
Ash Queen bean pods
Variety No. 4 – “Fashionista”
Approximately 75-80 days after planting, this varietal variety begins to bloom and form fruits that are colored in two shades:
- white;
- violet.
The bush itself is short, it will not grow higher than half a meter, but it can very carefully weave along the facade of the foundations of any buildings.
Variety No. 5 – “Purple King”
In a short period of ripening, the seeds of this variety of decorative beans turn into low-growing and compact bushes, covered with flowers and pods of the shade we mentioned.
Purple King bean fruit
Bean varieties with red flowers
The varieties of beans of the mentioned color also combine the following functions:
- decorative decoration;
- food source.
Let's look at them.
Variety No. 1 – “Fire Whirlwind”
This hybrid variety belongs to the mid-season category. The length of its branches is very respectable, it can reach about 3 meters, while being overgrown with thin branches and a large number of leaves.
Bean variety “Fire Whirlwind”
Variety No. 2 – “Little Red Riding Hood”
This decorative bean is one of the record holders for the length of the lashes, which can reach 3.5 meters. During the ripening period, small and neat pods are formed, suitable for consumption.
Flowering variety "Little Red Riding Hood"
Variety No. 3 – “Fire Falls”
This variety has the following feature: it pleases gardeners with its bright, fiery-colored flowers for the longest time. At the same time, the length of its lashes can reach 5 and sometimes even more meters. Produces green pods characterized by valuable taste.
Beans "Firefall"
Variety No. 4 - “Winner”
This perennial variety ripens on average 80-85 days after planting in open ground, while forming during the growing season:
- bright scarlet flowers;
- green pods up to 30 centimeters long.
The fruits of this bean are suitable for consumption and are produced very abundantly.
Now that we have learned which varieties are most often used by Russian gardeners and gardeners, let’s begin to consider the procedure for growing decorative climbing beans.
How decorative beans of the “Pobeditel” variety bloom
Prices for decorative bean seeds
decorative bean seeds
Description and characteristics of the plant
Most often in our areas you can find decorative beans with purple and bright red flowers. But the variety of its colors is much richer. It is believed that the purple color of the flowers is characteristic of several varieties of beans, while the fiery red color is a separate variety. Currently, it is believed that this is not entirely true: the variety of new varieties covers all imaginable color variations.
Beans are perfect for vertical gardening
Beans grow very quickly, many varieties reach a height of 5 m, and throughout this entire length the shoots try to grab onto something. This is a heat-loving crop, but it does not require special conditions and grows well in any sunny area. In the shade it feels somewhat worse, but also pleases the owner with very beautiful flowers. The fruits of many varieties are edible, however, few summer residents eat them, preferring to plant grain or asparagus varieties separately in a small bed.
Like any other bean, decorative beans saturate the soil around them with nitrogen, absorbing it from the depths of the soil and from the air and converting it into digestible compounds that accumulate on root nodules. In this regard, at the end of the season, the plants are not pulled out: they are cut off at the surface of the soil, leaving the roots in place.
Potatoes planted nearby significantly increase their yield due to the property of beans to improve soil fertility. And the green mass of decorative beans harvested in the fall is sent to a compost pit, where it enriches the composition of the collected plant waste with a large number of nutrients.
Nightshades growing close to beans are not affected by late blight. The Colorado potato beetle doesn't like its aroma either.
The homeland of decorative beans is Latin America; its original name translates as “sailing ship,” due to the shape of the flower. Ripe fruits are large, rough beans. They are collected in order to repeat the planting next year or build a flowering wall in a new area.
Video: all about beans Turkish beans
How to grow decorative bean seedlings from seeds
In order for your plant to withstand all the difficulties of living in open ground, not protected from environmental influences, it is best to grow it from seeds directly at home, planting it in the garden as mature seedlings.
Peat pots or tablets allow you to replant seedlings without damaging the plant roots
The best container for this crop is peat tablets, which, after combining with moisture, turn into pots. The fact is that such a container can then be dug into the ground without removing the earthen lump from it, that is, without injuring the roots of the plant.
What are peat tablets?
Preparing bean seeds for planting is carried out in three main stages.
Table 1. Preparatory steps before planting decorative bean seeds in pots or other containers
| Stage | Description |
| Seed selection | So, the first stage is to select seed material for growing seedlings. Here's what you need to do after collecting or purchasing seeds yourself:
|
| Carrying out disinfection | Disinfecting plants even at the seed stage will help you prevent the development of diseases in them during the period of becoming seedlings and adult bushes. So, to save bean seeds from ailments, you need to mix the solution:
|
| Activation of the biological work of the seed | You can also activate the work of the seed system, and thereby prepare it for further germination, by soaking, only this time the medium for placing the seeds will be plain water, preheated. You need to keep the grains in water until they swell, then they can be pulled out. |
Ornamental bean seedlings
After the preparatory procedures are completed, you can proceed directly to planting.
Provided that you have chosen not individual pots as containers, but a common, large container, then you will need to leave a distance of several centimeters between the grains (preferably at least 4-5). So that future seedlings have room to develop a root system, and at the same time not intertwine with the neighboring roots.
Beans must be planted to a depth of at least 3 centimeters, with 2-3 seeds sown per hole.
In order to grow seedlings without problems, from the moment of planting until the very last day before planting in open ground, you will need to keep the container with germinating seeds in a room where the temperature is maintained between 18-22 ˚C.
A month after sowing, it will be possible to plant beans outside, but if for some reason you are unable to do this, be sure to provide support for the growing vines.
You can plant seedlings in the ground no earlier than each seedling has two leaves.
Here are the conditions necessary to transplant a plant into open ground:
- at least two true leaves should form on the beans;
- frosts should pass irrevocably.
Each region has its own date for the possible return of frost, therefore, focus solely on the weather conditions of your place of residence when determining the landing date.
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peat pot
What is seed germination
Ripe seeds remain dormant and can remain in unfavorable conditions for a long time, keeping the embryo alive.
The transition from dormancy to life activity is called germination. In the embryo, metabolic processes accelerate and the seeds swell. The root appears first, then the hypocotyl. During germination, the embryo develops using nutrients from the seed.
Conditions required for germination
For germination, a set of conditions is required: a living embryo, favorable temperature and humidity, suitable light conditions and access to oxygen.
Temperature
Germination is possible only at positive temperatures. The temperature range favorable for the emergence of sprouts varies for plants of different groups and geographical origin.
For beans, the minimum germination temperature is +8 - +10°C, the optimal temperature is +20 - +22°C.
Humidity
Seed activation begins with good moisture. Water enhances respiration and initiates the work of enzymes, under the influence of which accumulated nutrients are converted into digestible form.
Fats are converted into fatty acids, starches into sugars, and proteins into amino acids. Protein-rich seeds such as beans and peas need the most water to germinate.
Oxygen
Active metabolism necessary for growth requires oxygen. This element is involved in synthesis reactions inside cells.
Without access to air, the seed will not be able to germinate; it will die in dense soil or under a layer of water.
Light mode
Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis reactions - the formation of nutrients. If there is insufficient lighting, the seedling lags behind in development or stops growing altogether.
Beans are demanding on light intensity, so they are planted in open, not shaded areas.
Sowing decorative beans in the ground
If you don’t want to bother with seedlings, and are ready to start planting beans directly in open ground, you need:
- carry out the preparatory activities described in the previous section;
- wait until the thickness of the earth to a depth of approximately 10 centimeters warms up by at least 14-15˚C.
So, warming of the earth to the mentioned level occurs:
- in the south, usually in early May;
- in mid-latitudes at the end of May;
- in the north in early to mid-June.
Subject to certain conditions, decorative beans can be planted directly in open ground.
Planting plants in the ground is almost identical to planting in seedling containers, however, now the following increases:
- backlog depth (up to 3 centimeters);
- distances between plantings (20-30 centimeters);
- distance between rows (50 centimeters).
It is advisable to cover the bed with beans with film until the seedlings emerge, this way you will protect it from unstable outdoor conditions.
Planting decorative beans, provided that you live in the southern regions of the country, can be done approximately twice during one growing season, however, only if early ripening varieties are selected for planting.
Fertilizing the land before planting
Before planting beans, you need to fertilize the soil with various fertilizers.
Before planting beans, you first need to fertilize the soil on which they will grow. To do this, the following substances are used for a planting area of 10 square meters:
- potash fertilizer, approximately 150 grams;
- superphosphate, 250-300 grams.
At the same time, you can mix humus into the ground at the rate of 5 buckets of the substance per previously indicated area. Simultaneously with the application of fertilizers, deep digging of the territory should take place.
Caring for decorative beans
Caring for decorative beans is easy, as they require extremely simple procedures.
1. To give the seedlings stability after they grow a little, it is necessary to:
- hilling;
- laying the green part of plants in the direction of potential growth.
In other words, when hilling, turn the stems in the direction where you want them to “crawl” further.
2. Beans respond well to regular feeding with organic matter. You can use humus or compost, but not fresh manure, it is too aggressive for her.
Caring for decorative beans is not difficult, so you can grow this plant without fear
3. Regular watering is a must for beans, but it should not be excessive or insufficient, otherwise the plant will not produce flowers and fruits.
4. When it gets cold, it is recommended to cover small seedlings or grains with film.
5. Mulching your beds is another great move that will help improve the condition of your plantings and get rid of pesky weeds. Suitable mulch:
- special fabric;
- straw;
- hay;
- wood sawdust.
6. Do not forget to loosen the soil so that the liquid evaporates from it as slowly as possible.
7. To stop excess growth of lashes, pinch them at the ends.
If you have chosen an ornamental variety that produces edible fruits, you can harvest beans in the first weeks of September.
Everything about decorative beans is wonderful: both nutritional value and appearance.
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superphosphate
Cooking beans
It's not just beans that need special processing before eating. After all, everyone knows that beans need to be soaked in cold water for a long time, and only then cooked for 1.5-2 hours.
You also need to know how to cook asparagus pods. They cook for just a little bit – just a couple of minutes. And if asparagus is to be frozen, it must be blanched. The pods are poured with boiling water for a few seconds, abruptly replacing it with ice water. This tactic helps preserve all the nutritional properties of asparagus and “clog” beneficial vitamins and microelements.
Climbing beans can be more than just a decoration - they are a great way to get a high yield of beans or asparagus with excellent taste from a modest plot of land.
Many varieties of grain and green beans have been used by people for many years for food, as feed crops for domestic animals, or to improve the soil, as green manure. But decorative climbing beans serve a different role. It is grown in the garden as a decoration. Thanks to its simple planting, easy care and rapid propagation, this plant is especially loved by gardeners.
