HOW TO GROW: Bush type beans

[seedcorn]

Yes, I'm trying (not too successful) inoculum is rhizome bacteria that fixes nitrogen to the bean roots. To see it, dig up roots and gently wash. They will appear as nodes on roots. To find if they are working, cut them in half, they should look like fresh ground beef. That last part is totally useless info....

You can buy it usually in dry form blended in peat moss. Now it is also available in liquid but not in small amounts. Great news is if you have grown beans in that area in last 7 years, they are there waiting on new bean plants for free.

 

[897tgigvib]

Cherokee trail of tears is a pole bean

I think dragon tongue is bush

ojo de cabra is a pole bean mainly for dry

Yep, old homestead kentucky wonder is a pole snap bean

Inoculum is the living and good beneficial bacteria in powder form that is added to the soil. Legumes, which includes beans, peas, alfalfa, vetch, all the plants in the Fabaceae family...there's that ...ceae part of the word from latin that's pronounced ...sheeya, but when we can ask a native latin speaker we'll know for sure... Legume plants have a thing going with certain bacteria. They share. The bacteria live and thrive on legume roots. The legume plant lets them. These bacteria release a kind of nitrogen that's in readily available natural bio organic form, and the legume plants use it. The bacteria make more natural nitrogen fertilizer than the legume plant can use, and it stays in the soil for the next crop grown there to use.

SeedCorn was mentioning that there are different strains of these related bacteria, and each strain of bacteria has its favorite kind of legume plant to share with. SeedCorn is right. A person can buy the bacteria in powder form for alfalfa, or another kind for peas, or another kind for Beans. It is safe and good stuff. The form for gardeners comes in small envelopes. You pour some into your packet of beans, close the packet and turn it over a few times to mix and then plant them as normal. Good stuff.

SeedCorn, did you mean Magnesium instead of Manganese?

 

[897tgigvib]

woops, simultaneous typing seedcorn. sorry.

 

[majorcatfish]

Planting depth, 3/4 inch +/- 1/4".
IF you need top end yields, use inoculum if beans haven't been grown in area for 7 years. Legume inoculum is a different strain and aren't interchangeable.
IF planting into hi organic soil, fertilizer is of limited value.
Beans are hi phosphorus, manganese, and potash users. Nitrogen makes more plant structure. Too much nitrogen, all plant, fewer beans. We're starting to see sulfur and zinc difficiences, but nothing home gardener should worry about.

I'm sure that seedcorn is trying to communicate with me... but I just can't understand... What is inoculum?


Major, I checked the sock drawer and I've got: Blue Lake Bush. I also have 3 others that don't say on the packet if they're bush or pole: Cherokee Trail Of Tears, Dragon Tongue, Ojo de Cabra. Also Old Homestead (Kentucky Wonder) but that's going to be for the pole bean thread.

ok sorry ....see you all another time and another place

 

[seedcorn]

No, manganese. Shows up in yellow striping in leaves. Most often shows up in muck but in soybeans everywhere.

In Midwest, we get magnesium with our lime.

Marshall, u did better job of explaining than I did. More info always good. Although I will never admit it to wife, I've been known to be wrong.

 

[canesisters]

Sooo.. Where would I find this inoculum? A speicalty garden store? Walmart? The feed store? What happens if I plant without it?

(can't believe I've got a handful of bean packets and only one bush-type... )

 

[seedcorn]

They sell it in Fort Wayne Indiana.....

I wouldn't worry about it. They are wild and if you see bean plants little yellow, feed them little nitrogen. Key is LITTLE.

All they do is add to nitrogen so if plenty in soil, no problem. In commercial operation, they need top performance to be financially competitive.

 

[897tgigvib]

the stores call it Bean Innoculant.

you can check walmart or tractor supply or a good hardware farm supply feed and seed place. check larger nurseries, and your favorite good little nursery where you can ask where.

If not available nearby, bountiful gardens on the internet, located near where I am but is international has it, in the various forms. Lots of seed company catalogs have it.

It can actually be applied near the plants after planting, scratched lightly in the soil and watered in. I understand it should not be left on the surface because too much light kills the bacteria. read that somewhere.

It is not critical to have it, but does help.