Moisture levels at flowering key to spring beans
Moisture levels at flowering key to spring beans
By Andrew Swallow
GROWERS with spring beans still to drill should get a reasonable crop despite the late start, with moisture at flowering the key driver of yield.
Harvest may be marginally later, but given the crops robust structure that is of little concern, says PGRO director Geoffrey Gent.
"Normally were talking mid to late August, so even if harvest is a little late there is still plenty of time."
Little yield potential has been lost either. "Weve not actually lost much growth. Crops sown in February have chitted and not much else."
The key factor determining yield now, overriding drilling date, is moisture availability at flowering. "You look at the woody stem and deep root on the plant and think my word this is a tough plant. But it wont tolerate drought," says Mr Gent.
Irrigation studies at ADAS Gleadethorpe and Boxworth show how responsive spring beans are to water at flowering and pod-set.
If drought is a concern, and irrigation not an option, then combining peas are a better bet, Mr Gent advises.
PGROs own drilling progress on light, free-draining soil highlights how tricky the season is.
"Weve no spring trials in," admits senior technical officer Steve Belcher. "We got the winter beans in on two days in early November and that was the last drilling opportunity we had."
It will be the first time PGRO spring bean trials have been drilled in April. But that does not necessarily mean a later harvest or lower yields, says Mr Belcher. "They should be going into warmer seed-beds so will get away faster."
Pea patience
Growers itching to get spring peas drilled must hold off until ground conditions are really ready, says PGRO technical officer Steven Belcher. "Be patient and wait for soil to dry out. They are very compaction sensitive. Cold and dry is OK but you do not want them going into a cold and wet seed-bed."