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LONG BEAN PLANTING

By

Lim Lee Lee
Agriculture Research Centre, Semongok


INTRODUCTION

Long bean is botanically known as Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. and it belongs to the
Fabaceae family. It is locally known as kacang panjang and is a very popular vegetable
grown for its immature pods. The young pods are either eaten raw or cooked. The
consumption of young leaves and shoots as leafy vegetables is also popular among the
locals. It is highly nutritious and is rich in protein, beta carotene, calcium, potassium and
phosphorus. The nutrient composition of long bean is comparable to French bean. Long
bean may be grown as a home garden vegetable as well as a commercial vegetable.



RECOMMENDED VARIETY

The Research Division of the Department of Agriculture at the Agriculture Research
Centre in Semongok has been screening long bean varieties from local and imported
sources. The Department now recommends the variety ‘ARC-LB168’ or ‘Stringlong’
bean for home garden as well as for commercial production. This variety is bred from a
local selection and has undergone numerous generations of purification. It was selected
based on its consistently high yield, good eating quality, unusual length and slim pod.
Seeds from the plants may be kept for future planting as ‘Stringlong’ bean is an open
pollinated variety and the seeds will grow true to type.


VARIETAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STRINGLONG BEAN

Pod yield 16-22 mt/ha, 1.4-2.2 kg/plant
Days to flowering 33-35
Days to harvest 45-51
Colour of flower Hyacinth violet

Colour of pod Dark green
Length of pod 90-110 cm
Width of pod 6.9-7.4 mm

Size of pod 26-45 gm
Productive period 4 weeks



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