Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis
Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Asparagus beans grow well in lowland tropical areas, and can also be cultivated at elevations up to 1,000 metres[1]. They prefer a daytime temperature in the range 20 - 30°c, can tolerate 14 - 38°c[2]. They grow badly at temperatures above 35°c and will be killed if temperatures fall to 4°c[1, 2]. Most cultivars grow well in humid conditions with an annual precipitation of 1,500 - 2,000mm, but can tolerate 650 - 4,100mm. Some cultivars will not flower during periods of heavy rainfall[1]. Requires a sunny position[2], Succeeds in a wide variety of soils, from sandy loams to clays, so long as they are well-drained[1]. Good yields have also been obtained on peaty soils[1]. Plants can tolerate moderate levels of salt in the soil[2]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 4.3 - 7.5[1, 2]. Dislikes alkaline soils since this reduces nodulation of bacteria on the roots and causes chlorosis of the leaves[1]. Young seed pods can be harvested about 2 months after sowing, whilst mature seeds can be obtained in 3 - 5 months[1]. Up to 6 tonnes of green pods can be obtained per hectare, or 400 - 750kg of dried seed[1]. There are many named varieties[1, 3]. Most cultivars are day-length neutral, though short-day forms are also known[1]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[4]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.
Propagation
Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and sow 1 - 3cm deep[1]. The seed can be sown in situ, but this will not work well in many parts of the temperate zone since it germinates best when the soil temperature is above 21°c[1]. Alternatively, sow the seed in spring in medium-sized pots in a greenhouse, planting 2 - 3 seeds in each pot. Grow the plants on until well established and plant them out in a warm position once the danger of frost has passed. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Vigna+unguiculata+sesquipedalis>
Pollinators
Insects
References
- [1]Vegetables in the Tropics — Tindall. H. D. · MacMillan, Oxford. · 1983 · ISBN 0-333-24268-8 ↩︎An excellent, in-depth look at the main vegetable crops that can be grown in the Tropics, plus many less well-known plants.
- [2]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
- [3]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
- [4]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [5]Tropical Food Gardens — Norrington. L. · Bloomings Books (Melbourne) · 2001 · ISBN 1-876473-41-x ↩︎Excellent little book giving some basic information on a range of plants.
- [6]Plants Database — United States Department of Agriculture · http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet ↩︎An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants.
- [7]Medicinal Plants of the Guianas — DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J. · Smithsonian Museum · http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html ↩︎A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region