French beans are a popular vegetable to grow in the home garden. They are relatively easy to grow and produce a good yield. French beans can be grown in any type of soil but they prefer a rich, well-drained soil. They should be planted in full sun and given plenty of water.Here in Uganda, the climate is ideal for growing French beans. The soil is rich and fertile, and there’s plenty of sun and rainfall. Plus, you don’t have to worry about frost damage.

French beans should be planted in early spring, after the last frost has passed. The plants should be spaced about two feet apart, with rows three to four feet apart. The plants will need support as they grow, so it is important to provide them with something to climb on, such as a fence or trellis.

Once the plants have started to produce beans, they will need to be picked regularly. Beans that are left on the plant too long will become tough and fibrous. French beans can be eaten fresh or cooked. They can also be frozen for later use.
If you are growing French beans for the first time, it is a good idea to start with just a few plants. Once you have a feel for how to grow them, you can increase the number of plants you have in your garden.

How to plant green beans

To get started, purchase some good quality seedlings from your local nursery or garden center. Plant them in well-drained soil in a sunny spot. Water regularly, especially during dry spells.

If you’re planning on planting green beans, there are a few things you’ll need to do in order to ensure a successful crop. First, make sure you choose a variety of bean that is suitable for your climate. French beans, for example, are a good option for cooler climates.

Once you’ve chosen your bean, it’s time to prepare the soil. Green beans prefer well-drained soil that is high in organic matter. If your soil is heavy or clay-like, consider amending it with some compost or other organic matter before planting.

When it comes time to plant, space your seeds about two inches apart and water them well. Beans are notorious for being finicky when it comes to watering, so make sure to keep the soil moist but not soggy during the germination process. Once the seedlings have emerged and are about four inches tall, you can begin thinning them out so that they’re spaced about eight inches apart.

As the plants begin to flower and produce beans, make sure to keep an eye out for pests and diseases. Common problems include aphids and powdery mildew. If you spot any problems, take action immediately to treat the plants accordingly.

With proper care and attention, your green bean plants should produce a bountiful harvest come harvest time!
Remember to water regularly, fertilize, and keep the plants free of pests and diseases.

How best to Harvest green beans

Harvesting green beans is a simple process, but there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you get the best possible crop.

The first thing to consider is when to harvest. French beans should be harvested when they are still young and tender, before the beans start to develop inside the pod. If you wait too long, the beans will be tough and stringy.

The second thing to consider is how to harvest. The best way to harvest green beans is by hand, as this ensures that they are not damaged in the process. Cut the stem of the plant close to the ground with a sharp knife or gardening shears, then gently pull the bean pod off of the plant.

Once you have harvested your green beans, it is important to store them properly so that they do not spoil. Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place until you are ready to use them.

Weed control for green beans

Weed control is important for any green bean crop, but it is especially important for French beans. French beans are very sensitive to weeds and can easily be outcompeted by them. This means that good weed control is essential for a successful French bean crop.

There are a number of ways to control weeds in a green bean crop. The most important thing is to keep the area around the plants clear of weeds. This can be done by hoeing or hand-weeding on a regular basis.

Another way to control weeds is to use mulch. This can be either organic mulch, such as straw or hay, or inorganic mulch, such as black plastic. Mulching helps to suppress weed growth and also helps to keep the soil moist and cool, which is ideal for French beans.

Finally, herbicides can be used as a last resort if other methods of weed control have failed. However, it is important to use herbicides carefully so that they do not damage the plants or the soil.

Pests affecting French Beans green beans

French beans are a popular vegetable, but they can be affected by a number of pests. These include aphids, caterpillars, mites and whiteflies. Aphids can cause damage to the leaves of French beans, while caterpillars can eat the beans themselves. Mites can also infest French beans, causing them to become discoloured and stunted. Whiteflies can cause mould to form on the beans.

How long does it take French beans to grow?

It takes French beans approximately 60 days to grow from seed to harvest. French beans are a warm-season crop, so they should be planted after the last frost date in your area.

How many times can you harvest French beans?

You can harvest French beans multiple times during the growing season. How many times you can harvest will depend on the variety of bean you are growing and the climate conditions in your area. In general, you can expect to harvest French beans every three to four weeks during the peak growing season.

When Is the Best Time To Plant French Beans?

French bean planting begins as soon as the first rains fall. You can get french beans all year ’round if you irrigate your land. French beans are a major export for Kenya during the months of October and May. Planting times for French beans should be chosen so that the bulk of the harvest occurs between October and mid-December, and mid-January and the end of May.

Beans are extremely important as it is one of the most consumed legumes across the country alongside maize and rice. It is also known to be one of the cheapest foods on the Ugandan market making it affordable to almost everyone. There is an urgent market for beans in the country which means that there is a need for an increment in the production of beans. Beans go for different prices and it all depends on the type of beans and below is an estimation of the current pricing per kilogram.

Average Price Of Beans In Uganda

Yellow beans shs3000 or shs3200

Nambale beans shs3200 or shs3500

White beans shs4000

There are a lot of things that are needed for a thriving bean garden and below are what you should put into consideration as you plan to start your garden of beans.

Selection of the site: this is the first thing that you need to consider before you even start looking for the variety of beans you wish to plant. The location of the farm should have soils that have at least 6-7PH and it should receive moderate rainfall all throughout the year. The soils should be well drained as damp soil always rots the beans before germination. After you have gotten the right location, then it is time to start the planting process.

Been Seeds

Selection of the seeds: Selection of the seeds that you are going to plant is easy due to the variety of beans in the country, however the most grown variety is Nambale. The varieties of beans that are grown in the country include NABE 12, NABE 4, the common Nambale, NABE 15 to 2 and Narobean 1, 2 and 3 and all these can be grown in central, Northern and eastern Uganda. Climbing beans are mainly grown in the western part of the country and along the slopes of the Elgon Mountain and these are Nabe 12c, 29c and 17c.

The seeds should be planted 2 inches deep into the hole and then covered with soil and since they are fast growing plants, they start sprouting from the ground after 6 t0 7 days after planting especially if the soil is well fertilized.

The planting process: beans should be planted with the eye of the seed facing downwards, 2 inches deep into the soil and they should also be planted 5 to 6 inches apart. Make sure that you water the beans immediately after planting and apply nitrogen as a fertilizer in moderate terms to ensure proper growth of the seeds. Also note that beans are not to be planted near onions as this might lead to rotting of the seeds and improper growth. When they start sprouting, make sure that while watering the beans the leaves do not get wet.

There are two types of beans that you can grow and these are pole beans and bush beans. The bush beans start sprouting before the pole beans and they require a lot of space so you can plant both so that you have a continuous supply of beans all year round. Take care of the beans as they grow, carry out weeding where necessary.

Harvesting of the beans

the best time to carry out harvest of beans is during the dry season and when they are mature. The beans can effectively be harvested after 60 to 80 days after planting and some of the ways you can harvest is by either snapping the beans off the vine or by pulling it. Harvesting of the beans is affected by two factors and these are the stage of growth and the type of growth. The three stages of growth in beans are the shell stage, dry stage and snap stage.

Shell beans are harvested whether they are fresh or dried and are harvested at a later stage. The snap beans are harvested when the beans are still immature. The only way you can tell whether the snap beans are ready for harvest is by looking at the size of their pods. You need to check at least one or two pods to make sure that they are ready for harvest, however you can let them dry and become dry beans. Dry beans are best harvested when they reach maturity and they are harvested through threshing which removes the pods.

Beans should be harvested at the right time, that is they should not be harvested too early as this leads to harvesting of beans that do not have any flavour and if you harvest them when it is too late, they become too hard and take a long to get ready while being cooked.

Pests and diseases that affect beans

Some of the most common diseases that affect beans in Uganda include leaf rust although this mainly affects the leaves it also sometimes affects the pods and stems. They appear as small white spots and keep on enlarging and changing their colour to a reddish brown. Angular leaf disease also affects the leaves and the pods.

Pests that attack the beans include bean weevils, maggots, caterpillars and bruchids which affect the whole plant. The best way to control the above is by applying a fungicide known as ridomil two weeks after planting, carryout crop rotation, apply fertilizers and treat the seeds before planting them with streptomycin.

All in all, when the beans are well taken care of from the planting process to harvest time can give you 100% profits irrelevant of the types that you have planted.