FRENCH BEANS PRODUCTION IN KENYA

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

ECOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS

ALITITUDE 1000 -2000 M A.S.L

RAINFALL   900   – 1200 MM of rainfall annually

GROWIMG TEMPERATURE 14^0C-32^0C

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 2^nd 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