CHINESE CONTAINER GARDENS - Growing Chinese Vegetables in Your Own Backyard - page 206

Mung Bean, page 65
Vigna radiate
Though mung beans are pole beans, and so take up more room than bush beans, they
are still well suited to container gardening. They'll wrap themselves around anything
handy. You'll have to train them to whatever support you provide — and keep them off
your other vegetables.
Mung beans do best in really hot weather. Since they have a long growing season,
set your containers in the warmest, least windy place you have. If you can, place the
containers against a wall and rig up a sheet of plastic to lower over them during cool
nights. Drop the plastic an hour or so before sundown; the cover will keep in the warmth
built up in the wall during the sunny hours, and the beans will stay cozy all night.
If you can rig up this kind of protective plastic housing, you can plant the beans as
soon as the days warm up; otherwise, wait until night temperatures reach 60° to 65°F.
Plant the seeds 4 inches apart in a long, narrow container that's at least 14 inches deep.
Fertilize when the pods start to form.
Mung beans can be grown indoors if you train them in front of a sunny window.
Yard-Long Bean, page 71
Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis
Yard-long beans are great for the adventuresome container gardener. The vines aren't
aggressive or over-long, the deep lavender flowers are large and beautiful, and the long,
slender beans are fascinating and delicious to eat. The vines are so prolific you may
have to pick them every day, like snow peas. Don't try them indoors unless you have a
heated greenhouse.
The one factor that's critical to success is the temperature. Don't plant the seeds in
outdoor containers until night temperatures are at least 65°F. You can start harvesting
within 40 days, so there's no need to rush the planting.