FRENCH BEANS PRODUCTION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION (FRENCH BEANS) MAHARAGWE MAJI
French beans are the immature green pods of Phaseolus vulgaris (beans) they are also referred to as green beans or snap beans.
French beans it’s a major export crop in Kenya where it is exported to the main markets which Are: UK, FRANCE GERMANY HOLLAND and BELGIUM.
IT is grown by both large scale and Small Scale growers in Kenya and other parts of the globe.
Staggered planting in small portion is recommended due to its high Labour requirements
It is grown for both fresh consumption and processing mainly canning and freezing.
CHARACTERSTICS OF THE PLANT
- The leaves have three leaflets with a long petiole
- The pods vary in color depending on cultivar
- The seeds may be black white or red colored two colored or marbled
- The growth habit is both dwarf and climbing type however dwarf is common in Kenya
COMMON VARITIES
Most French beans cultivars have cylindrical pods and belong either to the climbing, unbranched or the dwarf (bush type)
POLE CULTIVARS indeterminate growth up to 3m high and normally supported
BUSH CULTIVARS early maturity 20-60cm tall and have determinate growth with short
Internodes
STRINGLESS CULTIVARS the predominant type
VARITIES GROWN IN KENYA
FRESH MARKET VARITIES
- Serengeti
- Amy
- Pekara
- Teresa
- Paulist a
- Rexas
- Samantha
- belcampo
PROCESSING VARITIES
- Julia
- Ogandi
- vernandon
- sasasa
VARIETY | MATURITY PERIOD | POD LENGTH |
SERENGETI | 55 DAYS | 14-16CM |
AMY | 55-60 DAYS | 10-12CM |
PAULISTA | 58-60 DAYS | 10-12CM |
SAMANTHA | 58-60 DAYS | 10-12CM |
ECOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS
ALITITUDE 1000 -2000 M A.S.L
RAINFALL 900 – 1200 MM of rainfall annually
GROWIMG TEMPERATURE 140C-320C
SOILS -light sandy loams to clay
-friable medium loam soils that are well drained and have a lot of organic
Matter
-PH range 6.5 -7.5
GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
- market survey
- crop planting calendar
- soil testing
- composting
- use of quality planting materials
- recommended land preparation practices
- use equipment’s that have been calibrated and well maintained
- incorporating crop residues
- basal application of compost/manure that has been tested and analyzed from the laboratory
- recommended practices of seedling preparation /seedling from registered company and are genuine
- recommended spacing
- recommended fertilizer application rates
- supplementary water
- timely weeding
- top dressing
- IPM practices
- Safe and effective use of pesticides
- Use of harvesting indices
- Appropriate post-harvest handling methods
PLATING
French beans are sown directly into the seed bed
Seed rate 20-25kg per acre
In warm areas beans take 45 to 50 days from planting to first picking, hence plant from mid- august to mid- October then plant again early December
SPACING
Single rows 30X15CM (1 seed per hole)
Double rows 60X30X10CM is used
Plant population is normally 88, 888 per acre
It advisable to plant in blocks of four single rows separated by a path of about 50cm for ease management practices
FERTILIZER APPLICATION RATE
At planting 80kg/acre of D.A.P is applied in the furrow and mixed well with the soil before placing the seeds
WATER REQUIREMENT
A regular water supply is essential as moisture affects yields uniformity and quality
Watering during flowering causes flower abortion and thus reduce yields
It is advisable to grow the beans on ridge while using farrow irrigation in heavy clay since beans are very sensitive to water logging
It is recommended to apply 35mm/week at planting to 10days post emergence and 50mm/week thereafter to flowering stage
MANAGING OF WEEDS
Timely weeding is absolutely recommended
The first weeding should be done 2-3 weeks after emergence followed by a second weeding 2-3weeks later
Care should be taken to avoid damaging the shallow roots especially during the fist weeding
Never weed the crop when it is at flowering stage or when the field is wet to avoid flower shadding spread of diseases and soil compaction
MANAGING OF WEEDS
Herbicide use may be economically feasible for the commercial French beans grower
The following pre-emergence herbicides can be used
Stomp 455C5®(PENDIMETHALIN) 2.5 litters in 400 liters of water per/ha
BASAGRAN ® BEANSCLEAN 480SL® (bentazon)
TOP DRESSING
At the first trifoliate leaf stage French beans are top dressed at the rate of 40kg/acre of CAN and a second application of the same amount at the onset of flowering
An application of foliar feeds such as bay foliar , rapid grow , easy grow fortnightly from the 2nd week after to the mid-podding stage also promotes higher yields
PEST AND DISEASES
- Flower thrips
- Rod spider mites
- Cutworms
- Bean fly
- White fly
- African bollworm
MAJOR DISEASES
The following are the major diseases of French beans in Kenya.
- Rust
- Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV)
- Powdery mildew
- Angular leaf spot
- Fusarium root rot