Jack Bean (Horse Bean)

Direct sow after last frost in any well-drained soil in full sun — jack bean is a robust tropical annual legume widely grown as a green manure, cover crop, and nitrogen fixer throughout tropical and subtropical climates. The large, vigorous vines produce clusters of small, purple-pink pea flowers followed by enormous, flat, straight bean pods (10–14 inches long) containing large, white to ivory seeds. As a cover crop, it fixes substantial quantities of atmospheric nitrogen through root nodule bacteria, improving soil fertility for subsequent crops. The immature pods can be eaten as a green bean and the seeds can be eaten when thoroughly cooked (raw seeds and undercooked beans contain canavanine, a toxic amino acid analog that causes serious illness — always boil seeds in multiple changes of water). Very drought tolerant once established; excellent for rehabilitating poor, compacted, or depleted soils in the Gulf Coast vegetable garden rotation. Спосіб посадки: Посів у відкритий ґрунт Відстань між рослинами: 12–18 дюймів Висота: 36–72 дюймів Дні до схожості: 7–14 Температура ґрунту для схожості: 21–29°C

Direct sow after last frost in any well-drained soil in full sun — jack bean is a robust tropical annual legume widely grown as a green manure, cover crop, and nitrogen fixer throughout tropical and subtropical climates. The large, vigorous vines produce clusters of small, purple-pink pea flowers followed by enormous, flat, straight bean pods (10–14 inches long) containing large, white to ivory seeds. As a cover crop, it fixes substantial quantities of atmospheric nitrogen through root nodule bacteria, improving soil fertility for subsequent crops. The immature pods can be eaten as a green bean and the seeds can be eaten when thoroughly cooked (raw seeds and undercooked beans contain canavanine, a toxic amino acid analog that causes serious illness — always boil seeds in multiple changes of water). Very drought tolerant once established; excellent for rehabilitating poor, compacted, or depleted soils in the Gulf Coast vegetable garden rotation. Спосіб посадки: Посів у відкритий ґрунт Відстань між рослинами: 12–18 дюймів Висота: 36–72 дюймів Дні до схожості: 7–14 Температура ґрунту для схожості: 21–29°C --- Час посадки: 2–4 тижнів від останнього весняного заморозка Direct sow after last frost in any well-drained to moderately moist, poor to moderately fertile soil in full sun; jack bean is an excellent green manure crop for tropical and subtropical gardens — it fixes large quantities of nitrogen and improves soil structure. Do not eat raw seeds — canavanine must be destroyed by thorough boiling.