production guideline for pole beans seychelles

Pole beans can be grown both indoor and outdoor. Due to its high quality however, most Seychelles plantings are indoor. You will find that the wider your spacing between the rows is the higher you can trellis the beans. If the between row spacing is too low then you might pick up slight problems with the bottom fruit with regards to set (flower drop). Too set fruit, beans need to have enough light on the flower trusses. Seychelles is a variety that supplies a truss of 6 flowers all of the same size and shape, if it gets enough light. This is essential for higher yield and uniform picking size.

Climate Pole beans can be grown under protection in tunnels or green houses. They can also be grown successfully in open fields during the warmer months or all year round in the tropics. The optimum temperatures are 22 - 27°C air temperature. The soil temperature should be high for the seed to germinate well. Between 18 - 20°C is optimum for the soil.

Planting The bean seed can be either planted directly by hand or by machine or in seed trays that can be transplanted as soon as the first two leaves are formed. Sow the seed in rows from North to South if possible. The spacing in the row should be 20cm. Plant the seed about 2 - 2.5cm deep, cover with soil and compact properly for good germination. Seed should emerge at about 7 days after planting if the soil is warm enough. What is important is that they are all planted at the same depth in damp soil and only watered once before they germinate. They should not be watered while they are germinating.

Trellising All pole beans are indeterminate and need something to attach to, to grow into a mature fruit bearing plant. Therefore, it is essential to trellis them. To trellis them you can either hang a plastic net down from a wire and let them vine up along the net or let them climb up 1 - 2 strings per plant. You can use the plastic netting that is sometimes used to wrap goods on pallets. Try to go up to at least 3.5 meters. Depending on the structure you are planting in.

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Spacing Outdoor: Sow two rows per bed, 50cm between the two rows and 1.5 meters between the beds. Spacing in the row should be about 20 - 30cm.

Indoor: Only 1 row per bed.

Watering Do not overwater. It is important to let the plants develop at least 2 leaves before watering and after this to water them only once a day or once every 2 days.

If the plants grow to vigorously the EC should be lowered (and some leaves removed). Too much growth and shadows will lead to flower drop (less light).

Beans form nodules that in cooperation with Rhizobium bacteria can fixate nitrogen. This will only happen in soil or medium that has been seeded with bacteria. This process only starts after a while so it is important to feed the plants with nitrogen (N) in the beginning of the growth cycle.

Insects Be on the lookout for white fly, spider mites and aphids. Spray insecticides that are available according to identification of the type of insect and registration guidelines for the remedy.

Fertilization Start with an EC of 1.5 mS/cm and increase gradually till flowering to 3mS/cm (pH of the water 5.5 - 5.7).

Lower the EC to 2 when flowering starts. Beans are sensitive to salt and chlorides should be used only when really necessary. You can use the following two standard solutions. It should work well for the beans in artificial media.

Calsium nitrate Solution A/1000 liters

Potassium nitrate Ammonium nitrate Iron chelate (6%) or 3% 70kg 7kg 7kg 930g 1860g

Solution B/1000 liters Potassium nitrate 35.9kg MKP (Mono Potassium Phosphate) 17kg Magnesium nitrate 5 kg Magnesium Suphate 27.7 kg Manganese Sulphate* 170g Zinc Sulphate * 115g Borax 190g Copper Sulphate* 12g Sodium Molybdate * 12g * Micro elements can also be applied as chelates

Fungus Botrytis (Grey coloured mould on stems leaves and fruit) and Sclerotinia (thick wooly mould on fruit and leaves) are problems. Botrytis: Do not produce under too humid conditions. Pick some leaves to increase airflow. Remove wilting parts immediately. Spray Ronilan or other systemic fungicides. Use same fungicide for Sclerotinia and make sure planting substrate is clean.

Harvesting During the first five months, pole beans can be picked five times per 14-day cycle. This prevents the pods from becoming to mature and stringy. Do not pick under too moist conditions early in the morning because this might create cell burst and brown flecking the next day. Keep beans at 6°C with RH of 90% after picking. Do not handle too roughly.

Flower drop This can be a problem if the plants are spaced to close or grow to vegetative due to over fertilization. Balance growth with EC or N control and leaf pruning (this is not recommended, only when absolutely necessary). Yield can be up to 200kg/ha if the plants are kept healthy over a long period. Production yields of 3 - 5 kg/m² can be achieved over a period of 5 - 6 months.