How to Grow Tepary Beans In Your Garden

Tepary beans are native to the Americas and have been planted by the local people for thousands of years. Tepary beans are creamy and nutty in flavor, and they can be used in any dish. They are perfect for soups and stews. Though they are small in size, tepary beans are dense and meaty. They are easily grown in Sunset climate zones. They are rich in nutrients and grow from 1 to 3 feet tall with a foot spread of 3 to 4 foot. They are known as the most heat-tolerant crop in the world. They are mostly planted during summer and monsoon season which produces infrequent rains from July to August. Let’s see how to grow tepary beans?

Advantages Of Growing

Growing is one of the most popular hobbies in America these days. Growing and gardening are considered the best way to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Growing gives the gardener, the ability to experiments with new seeds and new varieties. Growing plants at your home can provide you more control over the quality and longevity of the plants. Growing plants is an art; one can use many different techniques.

Drought Resistance

One of the primary reasons to grow tepary beans is their exceptional drought resistance. Unlike many other bean varieties that require regular watering, tepary beans have adapted to survive with minimal moisture. This makes them an ideal crop for gardeners in regions prone to drought or those looking to conserve water. Their deep root system allows them to access water well below the soil surface, ensuring that they can withstand prolonged dry spells.

Nutritional Powerhouse

Tepary beans are not only hardy but also highly nutritious. They are rich in protein, fiber, and essential minerals such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. Additionally, they have a low glycemic index, making them a great option for individuals managing blood sugar levels. Including tepary beans in your diet can contribute to overall health and wellness, providing a plant-based source of protein that supports muscle growth and repair, digestive health, and immune function.

Soil Enrichment

Growing tepary beans can benefit your garden soil. As legumes, tepary beans have the ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in their root nodules. This natural process enriches the soil, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and promoting healthier, more productive plants. Incorporating tepary beans into your crop rotation can improve soil fertility and structure, leading to better yields for other garden plants.

Low Maintenance

Tepary beans are relatively low-maintenance compared to other garden crops. They require less frequent watering, are resistant to many common pests and diseases, and do not need extensive fertilization. This makes them an excellent choice for busy gardeners or those new to gardening. By planting tepary beans, you can enjoy a productive and rewarding gardening experience with less effort and input.

Versatility in the Kitchen

Tepary beans are versatile in the kitchen, lending themselves to a variety of dishes. Their slightly nutty flavor and firm texture make them suitable for soups, stews, salads, and side dishes. They can also be used in traditional recipes such as chili, refried beans, and bean dips. Additionally, tepary beans can be ground into flour for baking or making tortillas, adding a nutritious twist to your favorite recipes.

Preserving Heritage and Biodiversity

By growing tepary beans, home gardeners can contribute to preserving agricultural heritage and biodiversity. Tepary beans have been cultivated for thousands of years by indigenous peoples, and their continued cultivation helps maintain genetic diversity within our food systems. This is important for ensuring resilience against pests, diseases, and climate change. Supporting heirloom and traditional crops like tepary beans helps protect our agricultural heritage for future generations.

Direct Sowing

Direct sowing is also known as direct seeding, which means that you directly start planting seeds in the garden than buying plants and transplanting the plants. Sowing seeds directly do not mean that you just plop some seeds in the ground and leave it for the results. You need to take care of some of the factors before sowing, make sure that the area is weed-free, though there is competition for water and nutrients; it’s quite easy to mistake sprouting weed seed for your flower or vegetables and accidentally pulling out them. Make sure you plant seeds 3 times deep as their circumference is. Some seeds require light to germinate. Then, what you need to do is gently press into the damp soil so that they can make good contact with light and air. Always mark the spot first where you want to sow the seed because you may think you remember, but you don’t so it’s better to mark the spot. Don’t wash the seeds away, water gently. It is crucial to keep the soil moist, but not soaking, until the seeds germinate. Once you have had good germination, continue to pamper the seedlings until they become mature plants.

Growing seedlings

A seedling is a young plant which develops from a plant embryo from a seed. Development of a seedling starts with the germination of the seeds.

• Deciding the best time to plant your seeds: When
  you start your plants too late, it may not have enough time to get mature so
  start your plants a little early so that it gets enough time to get mature.
• Gather all the supplements you need: Germinating
  healthy seeds require quite a few things. First of all, you need seeds, a
  seedling tray or a food storage container, a plastic wrap, a small fan, and a
  timer. If you have used the supplies before make sure to clean them before
  using them again.
• Plant your seeds: Before you start planting your
  seeds, soak the Rockwool cubes for at least half an hour. Make sure to plant
  the appropriate number of seeds based on their crop types.
• Ideal Conditions for germination: Once you are
  done with the planting of seeds, it’s time to provide them with ideal
  conditions for germination. Green leafy seeds and herbs germinate well in the
  range of 55-75degree F, whereas fruity crops require upper range. Also, make
  sure that you cover the seedling tray with a plastic wrap.
• Keep your seedlings healthy: As soon as you see
  something green coming out of the seeds, make sure to give them proper light,
  especially in winter. If it’s too cold outside to place your plant outside, use
  fluorescent bulbs and keep it inches away from your plants.
• Strong seeds: Make your seeds strong by
  performing some tasks such as set a small fan and gently blow on them, make
  sure they get proper sunlight.

Transplanting seedlings

Transplanting the seedlings should be done with a very gentle hand and not roughly. Use a blunt knife ease the seedlings without disturbing the preceding seedlings in the line or tearing out the seedlings.

To transplant, the seeds, loosen the soil and fill each container with planting mix. Handle seedling by their leaves and make sure that you do not damage the soft stems of the plants. Poke a hole into the planting mix and place the seedling over there. Water it right away and keep it out of direct sunlight for a few days. After 10-11 days the seedlings are ready to be kept outside.

Insect and pest control

Insect and pest control treatment for seeds includes the application of pesticide to the surface to reduce or control the pests. Apply a chemical barrier to the seed so that it can protect the young seedlings from getting damaged by the insects. You may use systematic pesticides.

Controlling Diseases and Problems

Tepary beans, in my experience, don’t have many problems and the few they have can be handled like any other garden bean.  However, there is one really important thing to remember, which is that tepary beans are a desert bean and are water misers, so, they need minimal water and certainly much less than other traditional garden beans.  Actually, tepary beans tends to be more productive and mature earlier if once established and flowering, if they experience some mild lack of water stress.

When are tepary beans ready to harvest ripe?

The days of maturity depends on the cultivator, but can range from 60 – 120 days to harvest as dry beans.  Tepary beans are harvested for their dry bean seeds, so don’t get in a hurry to harvest them and let them dry on the plant, if possible.

Harvesting

Begin harvesting of tepary beans seeds a the bean pods dry out.  Keep in mind that tepary beans are most a wild beans and will shatter and drop their seeds if left too long. Also, the bean pods will be brittle when dry, so, harvest gently to minimize your bean seed loss.  You will want to shuck the bean pods after allowing them to finish drying in a cool try environment to be sure they are completely dry.   The dry tepary bean seeds can be stored in a cool place and saved for cooking until the for food purposes for up to five years.