How to Grow Turtle Beans

Turtle beans, which are sometimes called black beans or black turtle beans, are grown for the bean seed, which is dried for preservation. The beans are included in a wide array of recipes, most notably as the main ingredient in black bean soup. They are also used in soups made of several types of beans, in salads, and in some Mexican food dishes. Turtle beans are grown commercially on farms across the country and by gardeners.

Bean seeds
Hoe
Insecticide

Instructions

- 1
  Plant turtle bean seeds in spring when the soil temperature reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Push the seeds to a depth of about 1 inch, spaced 3 inches apart in rows separated by about 30 inches.
- 2
  Control weeds between rows with a tiller or a hoe.
- 3
  Monitor the bean plants for insects such as Mexican bean beetles and leafhoppers. Use an insecticide such as carbaryl or malathion.
- 4
  Pick turtle beans by hand when a high percentage of the leaves have fallen and the pods are no longer green. This occurs somewhere between 90 and 100 days after planting in most conditions.
- 5
  Check the moisture of the beans using a moisture meter. Beans must have a moisture level of between 16 percent and 18 percent to prevent spoilage. Monitor the stored seeds and use a dehydrator to dry the bean seeds if there is any sign of the start of spoilage.

How to Fertilize Black-Eyed Peas

What Salinity Will Stunt the Germination of a Bean Plant?

Growing Beans