I've always believed that by caring for living plants, we can bring many positive things to life in all aspects of our lives. Especially reviving a sense of enthusiasm in a small home, bringing a green atmosphere to the yard.
It does take a little effort to organize everything so that the small garden in front of our house looks neat. But once we get used to it, it won't feel tiring.
Besides, gardening is healthy. Don't be afraid to get outside and soak in the morning sun, or enjoy the afternoon air!
Just like this time, I'll share my journey of caring for my long bean plants until they're ready to harvest.
Why long beans? Well, I've grown long beans in pots before. But then I planted long beans again, but this time I planted them in white polybags. The answer is, of course, simple. Long beans are heat-resistant. So, they are very suitable for growing in the area where I currently live. Long beans are also relatively easy to care for, and they can be harvested quickly, around 40-50 days after planting.
Initially, I used a different method for growing these long beans. While I previously used the seedling method, followed by transplanting, this time I sowed them directly in white polybags.
I used 35x35 cm polybags. Then, I sowed four long bean seeds per polybag. I made two holes, one to the right and one to the left of the polybag. Each hole contained two long bean seeds.
The method of planting long beans using direct seeding in the growing medium required more effort. I had to move the polybags when the long bean seeds began to germinate. Meanwhile, while the seedlings were germination, I placed the polybags on the terrace in a shady area, out of direct sunlight but not in the dark.
The long bean seeds that had germinated in the polybags should be immediately exposed to direct sunlight, but not too much. So, I placed them in a spot that only received morning sun, for about one to two weeks after sowing.
After a month of sowing, the long bean plants were already strong enough to withstand full-day sun. So, here I've placed the long bean plants in a full-sun area.
So, after a month of sowing, I added plant stakes. I used lightweight steel for the main plant stake. For the additional stakes, I used nylon string to pull the plants together to the central stake at the top.
I planted four rows of long beans. I planted green long beans in the first two rows, while the other two rows were red long beans.
So, for each row, I used a total of five lightweight steel stakes: four on the right and left sides, and one at the top.
I also prepared small bamboo stakes, each measuring 10 cm. I planted the bamboo in the center of the polybag.
After that, I tied nylon thread to the bamboo, forming a thread that connected from the bottom of the polybag to the top of the plant stake.
This is the final result. It looks like a beautiful entrance gate to my garden. Neatly arranged.
I also regularly prune the bottom leaves of the long beans. I also fertilize them regularly. Once a week, I use liquid organic fertilizer, and once every two weeks, I use solid fertilizer, which is fermented goat manure that has become fine grains.
I'll update again when the long beans are harvested. Well, I hope you enjoy the atmosphere in my mini garden. Happy gardening.
Best Regards,
Anggrek Lestari
Anggrek Lestari is an Indonesian fiction writer who has published two major books. Now She is a full-time content creator. She has a goal to share life, poem, and food content that makes others happy and can get inspiration.
Contact Person: authoranggreklestari@gmail.com
Discord: anggreklestari#3009