Lost Crops of Africa Volume II: Vegetables (2006) / Chapter Skim
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12 Long Bean
12 Long Bean
Pages 222-233
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From page 223... ...
And the United States has also begun producing it on a large scale for Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Indian restaurants. It is now found year-round in America's Asian markets and in those supermarkets that have specialty produce sections.
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From page 224... ...
(East West Seeds International) very special form of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata -- a plant that unquestionably arose out of tropical Africa thousands of years ago (see Chapter 5)
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From page 225... ...
Both seeds and tender leaves contain 25 percent protein, of high nutritional quality. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration is so impressed with this plant's nutritional potential it is considering growing it in space to feed astronauts.
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From page 226... ...
Other Uses Long beans can also be used as fodder. In India and some other countries, cowpea is grown as a dual purpose crop: the green pods are harvested for use as a vegetable and the residual plant material, containing about 12 percent protein on a dry matter basis, is used for feeding livestock.
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From page 227... ...
A true legume, it is largely independent of fertilizer-enriching soil by trapping atmospheric nitrogen in nodules on its roots. It not only fits into African farming it fits into African cuisine, especially into the vegetable-laden sauces and relishes.
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From page 228... ...
The plant thrives in average garden soil that is loose and friable. Soil that is too rich in nitrogen fosters leaf growth over pod production.
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From page 229... ...
often are relatively pest-free compared to green bean varieties; however, the bean shoot fly and the bean pod fly may hamper growth and pod production. Remove and burn damaged plant materials to prevent spread of pest species." NEXT STEPS Because of global experience with long bean, African nations could mount programs right now to foster its adoption and better use.
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From page 230... ...
Even now, these, together with the plant's fresh green leaves, are exceptionally important because they are among the earliest foods available at the end of the "hungry time." Together with long bean, these are equally deserving of support and improved use. Africans are not used to eating green cowpea pods as a green vegetable, but rather they prefer dry cowpea grain.
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From page 231... ...
-- Pea family Common Names English: yardlong bean, asparagus bean, bodi bean, snake bean, Chinese long bean French: dolique asperge, dolique géante, haricot kilomètre, haricot asperge Portuguese : feijão-chicote, feijão-espargo, dólico gigante. China: dow gauk, dou jiao, chang qing dou jiao, chèuhng chèng dauh gok (Cantonese)
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From page 232... ...
The crop is produced most widely in the Far East. China and India are both modern centers of long-bean diversity, but unique varieties are to be found in most Southeast Asian nations.
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From page 233... ...
Soil This plant thrives in average garden soil. The plant is a true legume with nitrogen-fixing symbiosis; soil with already too much nitrogen favors leaf growth over pods.
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