Botanical name : Vigna angularis
Common name : Adzuki bean
Easy for seed saving
Lifecycle: Annual
Pollination: Self-pollinated, occasionally insect pollinated
Mating system: Perfect flowers
Suggested spacing: Same as for eating production
Seed specific requirements: none
Isolation distance: 3 metres
Population size: 10 or more plants. A single plant will provide viable seed.
Seed maturity: Seeds are mature when the pods change colour to light brown.
Processing method: Break seeds out of the pods by hand or by threshing
Expected seed viability: 3 years
Growing for seed
Adzuki beans are warm season annuals that do not tolerate frost. Crops typically take 4 to 5 months to mature.
Selection
Save seed only from healthy productive plants.
Harvest
The easiest way to identify when to harvest is to leave the pods on the plants until they have dried and turned brown. If needed, pods can be harvested when they change colour.
Whole plants can be cut and dried when sufficient pods have reached maturity. Some varieties are more prone to shattering than others so close attention should paid to the crop as it matures. Pods can be picked individually by hand if needed.
Be vigilant and collect any dried pods before rain. Once beans have dried on the plant, significant rain very easily causes mould to grow on the pods and seeds and these should not then be saved for replanting.
Processing
Once the pods are dry they can be broken open to get the seeds out. This can be done by hand for each pod. Alternatively the usual methods of walking on the pods or using a threshing machine can be tried. If the seed is dry it is difficult to damage it by threshing. Do not be tempted to try threshing or walking on the plant material before it is dried as the seed could be damaged while it is still moist and soft.
Contributors
Liz Worth