Decorative beans: varieties and cultivation

For the refining of the territory and landscape design are used not only flower beds and trees.Some plants have combined a decorative function with fruiting, therefore, in addition to grape vines, gardeners use such plants as decorative beans on their plots, which are used to create hedges and arches.

The popularity of winding culture among summer residents and owners of private houses is due to the unpretentiousness of varieties in agricultural technology, as well as the outward attractiveness of the bushes. In addition, among the existing diversity of its species there are plants that are distinguished by excellent yield. Curly liana attracts outwardly not only green mass and fruits, but also bright fragrant flowers, which in each class differ in their shapes, sizes and colors.

Latin America is considered the birthplace of curly shrubs. In fact, decorative beans is a fairly practical plant. As a rule, for its cultivation areas are selected along the fences and walls of the building. With the help of culture shade verandas, terraces and gazebos.

Bushes develop rapidly - on average, the length of one adult plant reaches about five meters. Decorative beans grow best in sunny areas.

Among the main characteristics of the plant is to stay on the following:

• the shrub grows very quickly, due to which, in one season, it manages to plant a large area;
• caring for decorative beans does not present any particular difficulties, and the external attractiveness of lianas only increases the interest in culture;
• beans are of great value for the body in its composition;
• In addition to human benefits, the culture is a good sideratoma, and the green mass acts as a nutrient compost.

There are some drawbacks related to the cultivation of decorative beans:

• due to the impressive length of the shrubs, they need an obligatory backwater, in addition, the plant must be tied up at the chosen place;
• plant decorative culture can not be everywhere, because it belongs to the heat-loving plants.

Such disadvantages are not so significant compared with the mass of positive features of beans.

Decorative beans are divided into two main types:

• grain;
• string.

In the first case, due to the peculiarities of the structure of the pod, it is not eaten. In asparagus beans there is no special layer between the beans, due to which the shovels ripen with tender and suitable for eating. You can also note the type of semi-sugar beans, which combines the features of the other two species. It is edible in its immature state, with further ripening the beans will fit as grains.

Varieties of curly beans, there is a huge amount, each has unique features. It is possible to plant various cultivars in open ground, combining them at your discretion.

The most popular varieties of decorative beans will be discussed below.

• Common. The height of the annual bush varies in the range of 1.5-3 meters. The appearance of the first inflorescences is noted 20-30 days after sowing, and the formation of the pods occurs before the onset of cold weather. The plant is distinguished by a green mass of guta and numerous inflorescences of different color. Regular collection of legumes activates the formation of new ovaries.

• "Winner". Shrub blooms bright red flowers. Due to the attractive appearance of a flowering plant, it is most often purchased for decorative purposes. Sometimes this variety throws white-pink and white-red inflorescences. Kind of unpretentious stands in the care. The height of the culture is from 3 to 5 meters. The bean flowering phase lasts almost the entire summer.

• The Purple Queen. This variety belongs to the asparagus variety of culture, stands out for its small size and average thickness of the branches. However, the bush blooms rather large inflorescences that have a rich purple color. In addition, the Purple Queen is notable for its high yield.

• "Harmony". Blossoming liana reaches a height of 4 meters, it is well acclimatized in various conditions. The advantage of the variety is the ability of shrubs to produce crops before the arrival of the first frost.

• "Golden neck". The liana of this grade reaches the small sizes. On average, it stretches to 1.5 meters - due to similar features, it is planted along with other climbing beans. The shrub is immune to many diseases, there is a good harvest of legumes.

• "Pink". Belongs to mid-season crops, its fruits are distinguished by a marble-pink color with a pattern. The plant is of medium size, the length of the bush most often is about 3-4 meters.

• "Brauhilda". Among the variety of decorative beans this particular variety stands out. Due to the popularity of the plant the unusual color of fruits and flowers - they have a bright purple color, and the foliage during the growth and maturation becomes purple. The length of the bushes is average. Typically, the culture is pulled out to 4 meters in height, but such a color decoration on the site needs a strong support and tying up, because the shrub has a lot of weight due to the abundant green mass, thickness of the trunk and shoots.

• "Hyacinth". The main purpose of the plant is to decorate the site. This is due to the rather mediocre taste of the fruit. The shrub grows to 4 meters. The advantage of the culture is the color of the leaves - they can be either a standard green color or red or purple. The variety blooms with white and very fragrant inflorescences. You can meet the culture of this variety with pink or crimson flowers. Bean pods also have an unusual color.

• "Spanish white." It is in great demand among gardeners due to the high taste of fruits and large white inflorescences, which are literally studded with vines of this variety. In terms of maturation refers to mid-late cultures.

• "Vigna Caracalla." Culture is unusual not only by its name, but also by its specificity in appearance. The flowers in the bushes are like snails, in addition, they stand out for their size. One inflorescence in diameter reaches 5 centimeters. With regard to color options - on the bushes can grow purple, purple, yellow and white flowers with a pleasant aroma. In addition to visual advantages, it should be noted that the variety is perennial, and the height of the vine can reach 6-7 meters.

• Borlotto. Asparagus beans of Spanish origin, which are quite successfully grown in Russia. Inflorescences attract with their scarlet color, the length of the shrub does not exceed 3 meters. In addition to the beauty of the shrub, the variety is popular with the taste of the beans.

• Golden Nectar. The plant has spreading greens. In addition to external attractiveness, legumes of this class are very tasty and nutritious.

• "Green Giant". Proper agrotechnics concerning this variety of ornamental shrubs will allow to grow beautiful 3-4 meter long vines on the site, which will give a good harvest until the end of autumn. Despite the small flowers, bright greens and purple blossoms will be able to decorate any structure and form a beautiful climbing arch. An interesting solution will be the combination of culture with other varieties of decorative beans.

• "Winged beans". Tall shrub with large greens and unusual color of flowers. The culture may contain cream or blue flowers. Sometimes there are plants containing inflorescences with a combination of these shades. In some countries, not only beans of this variety are eaten, but also green mass.

Even an inexperienced gardener can grow decorative beans on its territory. The main point in this case is the competent selection of the method of planting the crop, taking into account the characteristics of a particular variety.

There are a number of general rules that concern the choice of the optimally suitable place for cultivating a plant of this type:

• place to grow curly beans must be sunny;
• the culture actively develops only in a light and nutritious soil;
• the best precursors for legumes will be cucumbers, tomatoes or potatoes;
• Soil preparation for shrub planting is done in the fall, and before rooting, the soil is ground out and nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied.

Cultivation of decorative beans is possible in two ways:

• planting seeds directly in open ground;
• growing seedlings from seed.

The first method is the most acceptable for this culture, since the beans do not tolerate the transplant. As for the second option, its advantage is the fact that the vine quickly goes into the flowering phase.

Sowing seeds at the site immediately requires compliance with the following conditions:

• May will be the best time for work, since during this period frost is unlikely;
• Before planting, planting material must be soaked in a growth stimulator;
• seeds go deeper into the soil by no more than 2 centimeters, it is better to put 2 seeds in the well;
• the distance between plants should be at least 30 centimeters, and between rows should be about half a meter;
• A liana can grow properly only if there are supports that are installed near each well.

Planting seeds for seedlings is done a little earlier than planting material directly into the soil. Work can be done around the end of March. The optimal capacity for young plants will be peat pots.

Seeds one day before planting are kept in warm water or a growth stimulator. In addition, you can additionally process the material with potassium permanganate. Deepen the grain in the ground by about 1-1.5 centimeters. In the room with seedlings should be respected the optimum temperature. The air should be heated to 20-22 degrees. When young plants grow to 10 centimeters in length, they will need support.

Agrotechnical measures concerning decorative beans are quite simple. The works consist in regular loosening of the soil, removal of weeds and watering. Loosening of the land should be carried out after each soil moisture or rain. During the growth of the shrub these activities will be quite difficult to perform, so as an alternative, you can carry out mulching of the beds.

Since culture needs warmth, and the weather conditions have suddenly changed for the worse, creepers may require shelter in a nonwoven fabric. In some cases, a temporary greenhouse is built around the beans. Adult shrubs tolerate well lowering the temperature to 0 degrees.

The plant does not need frequent and abundant watering. It is best to moisturize under the root of the bush with warm water in the evening as the soil dries. Moisture on foliage and flowers should be avoided. Before the flowering phase of the soil can be slightly dried to activate the formation of buds.

Curly beans respond well to mineral and natural nutritional formulations. The only exception will be fresh manure, so the use of such organics should be abandoned. Feeding beans is done twice per season. For the first time with the appearance of two leaflets, during this period, 10 grams of salt, 15 grams of superphosphate and 1 gram of urea must be applied per square meter. During the formation of buds in the plant uses the same composition, with the exception of urea.

When the plant is sufficiently adapted and begins to grow actively, it must be tied up to set the desired direction of growth. With the help of tying up, you can easily give any form of curling liana. As for the material from which the supports for the shrubs will be made, gardeners have determined that the beans better braid wooden objects. But with metal or plastic, it develops and winds much worse.

Climbing plant, like any other crop, is prone to diseases and attacks of pests. The most common decorative beans are the following diseases:

• bacteriosis;
• anthracnose.

The first type of the disease manifests itself on the green mass of the culture - spots are formed on the foliage. Bacteria that are the causative agents of this disease are present in the seed. To destroy these microorganisms, the seeds are subjected to heat treatment.

Anthracnose is a fungal infection, which develops at low temperatures and high humidity. In this case, the whole plant is covered with yellow spots, after which the foliage dies.

For prevention, they also work with seeds - the material is examined for visual manifestations of infection, and before planting seeds are soaked in potassium permanganate. Part of the plant with signs of anthracnose urgently needs to be removed, treatment is carried out by Bordeaux mixture.

A threat to the beans are a germ fly, aphid and whitefly. To get rid of insects and their larvae, carry out a one-time spraying of beans with agrochemicals. They also harvest in time, because it is in the pods of the fruit that pests can start.

For tips on growing decorative beans, see the video below.