Green beans are a quick-growing, high-yielding crop popular in Mauritian home gardens. They fix nitrogen in the soil, making them excellent rotation crops. Used in stir-fries, curries, and salads.

Local names: Haricot, Haricot vert, Green bean

Months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September

Sow from March to September. Prefers cooler weather but tolerates mild warmth. Avoid waterlogged summer soils.

• Soil type: Light, well-drained loamy soil
• pH: 6.0–6.5
• Compost: Light compost application. Beans fix their own nitrogen, so avoid nitrogen-rich amendments.

• Seed type: Direct sow seeds
• Spacing: 10–15 cm between plants, 40–50 cm between rows
• Watering: Regular watering, 2–3 times per week. Increase during flowering and pod formation.
• Sunlight: Full sun (6–8 hours daily)

Organic options:

• Light compost
• Wood ash
• Seaweed extract

Chemical options:

• NPK 5-10-10 (low nitrogen)

Bean fly

• Natural remedy: Neem seed kernel extract and crop rotation
• Chemical fallback: Dimethoate

Aphids

• Natural remedy: Soapy water spray and ladybug encouragement
• Chemical fallback: Pyrethrin

• Days to maturity: 50–65 days
• Indicators: Pods are firm, snap easily, and seeds inside are still small. Harvest before pods become lumpy.
• Yield tips: Pick every 2–3 days to encourage continuous pod production. Morning harvest gives crispest beans.

• Duration: 5–7 days
• Temperature: Refrigerate at 4–7°C
• Tips: Store unwashed in a perforated plastic bag. Blanch and freeze for longer storage.