Vigna radiata

Mung bean

Common names: Mung bean, Lunjab bean

Photo: Ivar Leidus · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

This description was machine-translated.

Description

The mung bean, botanically Vigna radiata, originates from South Asia and is a leguminous plant. It forms mostly bushy, slightly climbing stems with trifoliate leaves and small yellow flowers from which slender, hairy pods develop. It is best known for its small green seeds, which are excellent for sprouting. The sprouts are often mistakenly sold as soy sprouts, although they are botanically mung bean sprouts. As a heat-loving plant it requires a sunny, sheltered spot and a long frost‑free season. Like many legumes, it fixes nitrogen in the soil through root nodules, making it a good cover crop for heavy feeders.

Care instructions

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, as mung beans prefer warm, slightly damp conditions rather than wet ones. When the plants reach 15 to 20 cm tall, mound the soil slightly to provide support and root space. A fleece can help protect the heat-loving plant during cool nights below 10 °C. Harvest the pods continuously once they turn brown, as the plant will produce new pods for weeks thereafter.

Soil & site

Soil pH

4.0pH 6–7.58.0

Soil type

well-drained, sandy, lean, dry

LightFull sun

HardinessFrost-sensitive

Crop rotationLegumes

Water needMedium

Feeding

Light feeder

Companion planting

Good neighbors

cabbage family (Brassicaceae)

particularly well established

Leguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.

For example White cabbageKohlrabiRadishKalebroccolicauliflower and 34 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

carrot family (Apiaceae)

Peas and beans provide carrot and celery with nitrogen and grow as shallow-rooted plants without competition next to each other.

For example Carrotcelery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCoriander and 19 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

gourd family (Cucurbitaceae)

Beans and peas enrich the soil with nitrogen, which cucurbits, as heavy feeders, can make good use of.

For example CucumberPumpkinCourgettepickling cucumberButternutHokkaido and 14 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

Rather not

amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae)

particularly well established

Allium species inhibit the nitrogen‑fixing rhizobia of legumes through their root exudates, which slows their growth.

For example GarlicOnionLeekChivesDaffodilRocambole and 12 more species in the catalogue

Source: basic crop‑rotation rule

Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.

Some of these explanations were machine-translated.

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