How to grow Snake Bean

Culture: In the Northern Territory snake beans are planted as seed into slightly damp and warm soil with 1-2 seeds in each planting hole or “hill”. After sowing, water should be withheld until germination has occurred (3-5 days). The planting bed should be mounded if waterlogging during the season is expected. The planting is usually into single rows about 3 m apart with 30-60 cm between “hills”. The plants are encouraged onto trellises.

In the Northern Territory snake beans will benefit from extra organic matter added before planting via either a green manure crop or an application of animal manure. This organic matter should be well broken down before planting. An application of NPK fertiliser and calcium just before planting can also be used as well as further applications of fertiliser (either urea or NPK) during the season. However care must be taken to not over-supply nitrogen as that can lead to excessive growth and reduced yields.

Snake bean yields also decline if water is under-supplied so care must be taken to keep soil moisture high.

Pests and Diseases: Rusts, mildews and some viruses can seriously affect snake beans though in the main they are only mildly susceptible to most fungal diseases. However in the Northern Territory fusarium wilt is becoming a very major problem, as are root-knot nematodes. The vectors for most viral diseases (aphids and white flies) can also cause problems.

The major insect problems for snake beans apart from those mentioned above are cutworms, bean flies and mites.

Fruiting Season: Seed germination occurs within 3-5 days of planting with flowering starting in the fifth week after sowing. Fruit can be harvested two weeks after first flowering. Depending on crop health and harvest intensity, plant senescence starts 6-8 weeks after sowing with plant death usually within four months of sowing.

Harvesting: This can start within seven weeks of planting. The best harvest stage depends on variety and market requirements however the fruit are normally picked when the outline of the seeds is just
visible on the outside of the pods. When picking, all suitable pods should be removed as pods that are allowed to fully mature (ie: pods are hardened and seed swollen) will exhaust the plant. Picking should be done at least twice a week though in hotter climates picking may be required more frequently.
“http://www.nt.gov.au/dpifm/news/index.cfm/2007/7/26/Snake-Bean—Fact-Sheet—VF7”:

These estimates for how long Snake bean takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

The beans on this plant grow very, very long. 12-36 inches long! Most of its common names refer to the long length of the pod.

Cow bean, Yardlong bean, Long-podded cowpea, Asparagus bean, Chinese long bean, Dau gok, Thua fak yao, Kacang panjang, Vali, Eeril, , Yardlong bean, chinese long bean, Yard long beans

Misspellings: Vigna sesquipidalis