French Beans Farming; how to grow french beans and how to harvest & sell it: A Comprehensive Farmer’s Guide

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Horticulture is the third largest source of foreign exchange in African countries such as Kenya. Flowers account for the majority of total horticulture exports. Fresh produce, such as French beans, accounts for roughly 30% of horticultural exports. The European Union is Kenya's top export destination for all horticultural products.

The Fabaceae family includes French beans. They are known locally as Mishiri. Beans are bred and grown for their pods and seeds. The crop comes in a variety of varieties. Serengeti, Samantha, Teresa, Amy, Rexas, Belcampo, Pekara, and Paulista are some commonly grown varieties.

The crop thrives in Kenya's warm, wet regions, where annual rainfall ranges between 900 and 1200mm. French beans can be found in Thika, Kirinyaga, Kajiado, Nyeri, Naivasha, Uasin Gishu, and Machakos. If you live in a dry climate, you can grow French beans with irrigation.

How To Grow French Beans

Rain-fed agriculture is feasible in areas with evenly distributed, medium to high annual rainfall of 900-1,200mm. However, irrigation is required to ensure a continuous supply, especially during the off-season. It is necessary to use up to 50mm of water per week. French beans can grow in a variety of soil types, including sandy, loam, and clay. The ideal temperature for manufacturing is 20-25°C. However, depending on the variety, the beans can survive in temperatures ranging from 14 to 32°C. Seedlings will not survive in temperatures below 10°C. They thrive in friable (easily crumbled), silty loam to heavy clay soils that are well-drained and high in organic matter.

Soil Test

Consider the nutrient and chemical status of your soil before planting the french beans. The ideal soil pH range is 6.5 to 7.5, but french beans can tolerate pH levels as low as 4.5. Plant growth is hampered below a pH of 4.5 due to a restriction in the development of the rhizobium bacteria responsible for nitrogen fixation in the galls formed on the bean roots. Before planting, it is best to conduct a soil test. Various varieties are grown primarily for export, and their selection is determined by market demand.

French beans are directly sown into the seed bed. Before planting, the land should be properly ploughed and harrowed. French beans can be grown all year with irrigation, but the main export season is from October to May. Single rows of 30x15cm (one seed per hole) or double rows of 60x30cm should be spaced. The spacing will be determined by the variety, soil fertility, water availability, and climate. Planting should be done in blocks of four rows separated by a 50cm path.

Fertilizer And Manure Application

Depending on the variety, the seed rate for French beans is 25-60kg/ha (10-24kg/acre) of certified seeds. Apply 200kg/ha (80kg/acre) DAP along the rows before planting, or as directed by your soil test results. By thoroughly mixing the fertilizer with the soil in the planting furrow, contact between fertilizer and seed can be avoided. Top-dress with 150kg/ha (60kg/acre) Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) twice or as recommended by your soil test results. The first is when two to three leaves appear, and the second is when flowering begins.

Helping French beans

Climbing varieties that reach a height of about 1.8m (6ft) must be supported. This is accomplished by using trellises, poles, or other structures at least 200cm (8ft) tall.

Diseases and Pests

Rust, angular leaf spot, root rots, bacterial blights, anthracose, bean common mosaic virus, powdery mildew, and downy mildew are the most common diseases in french bean farming. Farmers are advised to use crop rotation, tolerant varieties, field hygiene, health certified seeds, and recommended insecticides and fungicides to control these diseases.

Categories of French Beans

1) Extra fine pods: are very tender, turgid, seedless, without strings, and defect-free. The maximum diameter of the pods should be less than 6mm, and the minimum length should be 10cm.
2)Fine pods may have small seeds, be short and stringy, and be turgid and tender. The width of the pods should be between 6-9 mm, and the length should be between 12-14 cm.
3) Bobby beans comprise those which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above. Beans should be reasonably tender and seeds should not be too large.

Excess nitrogen should be avoided because it may promote vigorous vegetative growth at the expense of pod production. Foliar feeds are recommended to improve crop development and yield. The type of fertilizer used is determined by the soil's fertility, soil test recommendations, and variety requirements. Farmyard manure is also recommended, especially in soils with low organic matter levels. At a rate of 10 tonnes/ha, it should be applied in the planting furrow and worked into the soil. Depending on the variety and soil conditions, a kilo of seeds requires 4-8kg of fertilizer."

Harvesting of French beans

French beans can be harvested before the pods are fully mature. How long does it take for French beans to mature? The average maturity period ranges between 45 and 60 days. Depending on the variety, you can harvest the pods between 42 and 56 days after planting.

During the harvesting period, the pods should be picked three times per week. The harvesting should continue for 1.5 to 2 months. To maintain export quality, harvest the immature pods before they reach full maturity. They should be harvested in the early morning when temperatures are cool. It should be noted that the crop is highly perishable and should be harvested only when there is a ready market.

French Beans Market In Europe

The European Union is the largest buyer of French beans. Kenya's export market is divided into two seasons: Every year, the low demand season lasts from June to September. It is distinguished by abundant supply from those who produce as a result of the long rains and low demand from the EU market because they can produce their own by then. The high demand season typically lasts from September to March. During this time, EU markets are experiencing winter, and their only option is to import, which is when Kenyan farmers benefit from production.

Where to sell french beans

In Kenya, the consumption of French beans is quite low. The produce can be sold to restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, and supermarkets. However, the majority of farmers grow the crop for export. The majority of the produce is exported to Europe.

French Beans Farming Challenges

When washing, processing, and packing export products, strict hygiene standards should be followed. Chemical residues should not be present in the beans. If the produce does not meet the quality standards, it is rejected. Poor disease and pest management can result in subpar produce.

How profitable is French beans farming in Kenya?

French beans are one of the most valuable crops you can grow on your property. In Kenya, how much French bean yield per acre? An acre of French beans can yield 6 to 9 tonnes. However, the price of French beans varies according to the season. French beans cost Kshs 21 per kg at the farm gate. During the peak season, French beans cost between Kshs 70 and Kshs 100 per kg.
You will earn between Ksh 420,000 and Ksh 600,000 if you harvest 6 tonnes per acre. The price drops to Kshs. 30 per kg during the low season. During peak seasons, harvesting 6 tonnes per acre will net you between Kshs 420,000 and Kshs 600,000 in profit.