Growing Black Beans: A Seed to Harvest Guide

Choose a Location

Black beans need not enjoy transplanting, like the majority of other dry bean kinds, so it is best to prepare to sow them directly into your potting soil. Choose a position that receives direct sunlight (at least five to six hours each day) and is free of shade-inhibiting trees and plants.

Prepare Your Soil

In order to avoid root rot and liquid garden soil, make sure your soil is loose and well-draining. Before hurriedly planting your black beans, make sure to check the pH of the soil and make any required adjustments. Simple to use and easily accessible at most garden centres are home pH test kits.

Purchase Seeds

The original black bean crop is a vine that twines similarly to how pole beans twine these days. Nonetheless, determinate (bush) or indeterminate (pole) types of black beans are currently offered. Choose whether you want to plant black bean pole or bush kinds, then buy the appropriate variety.

How Many Black Beans Should be Planted

A good amount of black bean for one person typically requires between eight and twelve black bean plants. So, it is recommended to grow 12 plants of black beans per person if you are growing them for food.

Pre-Soak Beans 

If you soak dried beans over night, they have a considerably higher probability of successfully germinating. Soak your bean seeds in cool, safe water overnight before planting them.

Plant the Beans

Whereas bush black bean varieties need between six and eight inches between each plant, pole bean species only need 3 to 4 inches. In about one-inch-deep holes, plant seeds. When you sow the seeds, make sure the eyes are pointed downward.

Water

After planting, water your seeds sparingly. Once the seeds have sprouted, only water your plants when the soil is nearly dry. The germination time for black bean seeds is 10 to 14 days.

Mulching

Mulching will help the soil retain moisture, keep it warm, and keep weeds from growing. Start mulching your plants when they are a few inches tall and have a few leaves emerging. To encourage aeration, however, keeping mulch far from the stems of the plants.

Protect and Support

Inspect your soil and beans plants frequently for insects like aphids and spider mites. Use a hose to raise the bean plants, kill the bugs with neem as an organic insecticide, or think about adding helpful pests like ladybirds to your garden. Remove any weeds that are forming in the spaces between your bean plants.

Harvesting

It's time for you to harvest the black beans when the bean capsules turn yellow and dry. If you decide to harvest these bean while they are still green, then must allow them completely dry out before you can extract the bean.