Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022 - 196

Legumes - Horticulture
Legumes - Horticulture
Major update by Ben Phillips, Liz Maynard - Oct 2020
Reviewed by Liz Maynard - Aug 2021
Crop Description
Fresh or Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris): These are edible
podded beans that are usually green (green beans) or yellow
(wax beans), but they also come in red and purple podded
varieties as well. They are harvested while pods and seeds are
still tender. Older varieties (string beans) had a fibrous
" string " the length of the pod that was removed during
preparation for eating. Flat-podded Romano beans are also
harvested while pods and seeds are tender. Within this
category are " vining " , " pole " , or " runner " beans that need
trellising, and " bush " beans that are short and sturdy.
Dry Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris): Dry bean refers to a wide
variety of beans harvested after the seeds are mature and pods
have dried down. Kidney, navy, black turtle, white, and pinto
beans are examples. Within this category are " vining " ,
" pole " , or " runner " beans that need trellising, and " bush "
beans that are short and sturdy.
Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus): Lima beans represent a
different species than fresh beans and dry beans. They can be
harvested when completely dry (like dry beans) or as " baby
limas " before the seed has matured (similar to the southern
pea described below). Some lima bean varieties will readily
climb a trellis, but other varieties are more bush-like.
Fresh Pea (Pisum sativum): These peas are cool-season crops
grown for their immature edible seeds or pods. Snow peas
have flattened, tender, edible pods and seeds. Snap peas have
edible pods and plump seeds. Shell peas have pods that are
too tough to eat and the peas must be removed for eating.
Some pea varieties will readily climb a trellis, but other
varieties have a sprawling bush-like architecture.
Dry Pea (Pisum sativum): These peas are cool-season crops
grown for their mature edible seeds, like dry beans. Dry pea
varieties are bush-like to facilitate machine harvest.
Southern Pea, Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata): These peas are
heat-loving crops more commonly grown in southern states,
though they can be grown in the north. They include blackeyed
peas, cream peas and crowder peas. They are grown for
their immature and dried shelled seeds, and are well-accepted
in markets where customers are familiar with them. Southern
peas have a sprawling bush-like architecture.
Planting and Spacing
Fresh or Snap Bean, Dry Bean, Lima Bean, Southern Pea:
Rows 18 to 36 inches apart, 5 to 7 seeds per foot of row for
bush types (70 to 100 pounds per acre), or 2 to 3 seeds per
foot of row for vining types (35 to 50 pounds per acre).
Larger inter-row spacing helps limit white mold
development. These warm-season vegetables should be sown
after soil temperatures average 60° F and frost danger is past.
Sequential plantings of bush snap beans are possible. Vining
types will readily climb a trellis of horticultural netting up to
8 feet tall without much training.
Fresh Pea and Dry Pea: Rows 32 to 36 inches apart, 6 to 8
seeds per foot of row for bush types (100 to 150 pounds per
acre), or 3 to 4 seeds per foot of rows for vining types (50 to
75 pounds per acre). These cool-season vegetables should be
sown in early spring for a spring crop or in mid to late
summer for a fall crop. Plants deteriorate quickly in the heat
of summer. Vining types will readily climb a trellis of
horticultural netting up to 5 feet tall without much training.
Fertilizing
pH: Maintain a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5.
Before planting, apply 20 to 40 pounds N per acre for peas
and 30 to 60 pounds N per acre for beans, 0 to 100 pounds
P2O5 per acre, and 0 to 100 pounds K2O per acre based on
soil test results and recommendations from your state. Or
apply some or all of that amount at planting in bands at least
2 inches below and 2 inches to the side of the row, except the
rate of K2O should not exceed 40 pounds per acre when
applied this way because peas and beans are sensitive to
injury from fertilizer salts. Reduce the preplant fertilizer by
the amount applied in bands at planting.
Beans are prone to zinc and manganese deficiency when pH
is over 6.5. Include up to 1 pound of zinc per acre and 2
pounds of manganese per acre in the banded planting time
fertilizer. If banding is not possible zinc may be broadcast up
to 10 pounds of zinc per acre. Broadcasting manganese is not
recommended. Foliar sprays of 0.5 pounds zinc per acre or 1
to 2 pounds manganese per acre can be used if needed.
Sidedressing is not needed for legume crops. Reduce the
amount of fertilizer N applied by the value of N credits from
green manures, legume crops grown in the previous year,
compost and animal manures, and soils with more than 3
percent organic matter. The total amount of N from fertilizer
(including starter) and other credits should be 40 to 60
pounds per acre.
196
Midwest Veg Guide 2022
Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022

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