Beans are a legume crop known to the peoples of Central and South America since ancient times. Along with maize, it formed the basis of their diet. After the discovery of America, the plant became known to Europeans and became firmly established in the diet of many peoples. In Russia, the crop is grown in the southern regions, and in central Russia only on individual plots.
Benefit
We all see green beans on supermarket shelves in frozen, fresh, and canned form. Due attention should be paid to this type of bean, which has valuable nutritional properties. And it’s even better to grow an environmentally friendly product on your site. For example, a worthy representative of green beans is the Xera variety.
- The Xera variety is a low-calorie product. Therefore, it can be safely included in the diet of people struggling with excess weight;
- The Xera variety is rich in fiber, which activates digestion and reduces blood sugar. Therefore, the fruits are recommended for diabetics;
- A high folic acid content is especially important for pregnant women. It will help to exclude pathologies that may arise from a lack of folic acid;
- The high content of vitamin A, lutein and beta-carotene helps maintain sharp vision, clear memory and slow down the aging process;
- B vitamins and vitamin C fight infections and depression;
- The fruit contains a high content of rare microelements: magnesium, potassium, manganese, silicon. They take an active part in the metabolic processes of the human body.
Xera green beans are a valuable product. It is not difficult to grow it in your garden. Those who have tried it once do not give up growing the plant and plant it without fail on their plots.
Description
The Xera variety is grown to produce green pods that are eaten. The pods grow up to 13 cm long, up to 9 mm in diameter, thin and uniform in diameter and length. Much thinner than regular bean pods.
The plant itself is of the bush type. Its height is no more than half a meter.
Growing
The Xera variety is an unpretentious plant. But still, when growing it, follow simple agricultural practices in order to achieve a positive result in the form of a rich harvest.
The plant loves warmth and light soil structure, abundant watering. Does not like stagnant moisture, heavy cold lands that do not warm up well.
Consider crop rotation. The best predecessors for green beans are zucchini, pumpkins, eggplants, potatoes and tomatoes.
Experienced gardeners use the following agricultural technique when planting beans: they alternate rows of potatoes with rows of beans. Next season, these crops are swapped. Beans, like all legumes, saturate the soil with nitrogen, which has a beneficial effect on potatoes so well that they do not require any fertilizer during the growth period. Beans repel the Colorado potato beetle. Of course, not completely, but still it becomes significantly less.Using the Xera variety is ideal for this growing method, because the bushes are quite compact.
Start preparing the soil in the fall. Dig up and remove roots weed, apply manure and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. This is done so that future plants can easily absorb useful microelements, which become part of the soil during the winter. In addition, the presence of sufficient phosphorus and potassium will prepare the plant for the growing season.
Plant beans of the Xera variety in open ground after the soil has warmed to +16 degrees and when the threat of return of frost has subsided. The end of May - the beginning of June is the time to plant asparagus beans in central Russia. Pre-sowing preparation for seeds of the Xera variety is not required, since during germination the seeds can disintegrate into cotyledons. Which leads to loss of seed. You can pickle the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, but not more than 15 minutes.
Dig up the soil before planting, you can add wood ash, make holes or grooves. Plant the seeds to a depth of 3-4 cm, at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other. If the soil is moist, then additional moisture is not required.
After 10 days, wait for the emergence of seedlings. Beans can be planted in seedlings. The Xera variety is mid-early; 60 days after planting, the first fruits can be picked.
Regular care of beans includes watering, removing weeds, and fertilizing. Use herbal infusion as a top dressing. Place herbs, for example, nettle, in a container, fill it with water and leave for a week. Then take 1 part of the infusion and 10 parts of clean water and water the beans.
For another growing method, watch the video:
Harvesting
The pods of asparagus beans of the Xera variety are picked at the stage of milky ripeness, before they become tough and rough. Collect fruits when they are ready, selectively. Ripe pods are not suitable for food.
The more often you pick the fruits, the more ovaries will form. And the richer the harvest will be.
Conclusion
Beans of the Xera variety are worthy for growing on your plots. Eating it will bring considerable benefits to the body and diversify your daily menu. Xera beans can be boiled and used in salads, soups, and stews. It is better to freeze it for the winter; for convenience, cut it into small pieces. The quality does not suffer from freezing.
