How to Grow Gungo Beans

Soak the gungo beans overnight.

Plant gungo beans out in spring once outdoor temperatures are consistently above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer the weather, the more readily the gungo beans will germinate. Plant each gungo bean 1 inch deep, 1 to 2 feet away from its neighbors, in rows that are 2 to 4 feet apart. There is no need to till or loosen the soil before planting. That may encourage dormant weed seed to germinate, and gungo beans are very good at burrowing through tough soil.

Water the gungo beans with a gentle spray to moisten the top 3 to 4 inches of the soil. Water the soil whenever it dries out. Or conserve water and only water once every two weeks when there is no rain. Your gungos will germinate less evenly, but they can handle it. If the soil remains moist and the weather warm, the gungo beans will germinate in two to three weeks. After they put on an inch or so of growth, they will only need water during periods of severe drought.

Harvest the green seed pods when they reach their mature size, 95 to 250 days (or earlier) after germination, depending on the cultivar. Harvest mature seed pods once they brown and dry on the plant.

Prune leaves and shoots any time as fresh vegetables, or to use as mulch or animal feed. Don't be afraid to cut a fair amount, especially if you don't need all of the beans. Cutting back stimulates the pigeon peas to produce more foliage.