Adzuki Bean

Growing

Sow seeds directly into the garden once the soil has warmed and frost has passed. This is a climbing or trailing vine, so provide a trellis or support to carry its weight. The plant withstands periods of drought, but yield drops if the soil becomes too dry. Keep the soil evenly moist without letting the roots sit in waterlogged earth.

Watch the vines for powdery mildew or bacterial blight, and for cutworms or pod worms that damage the developing crop. In a garden, "weed forms" can escape and contaminate your cultivar, which lowers the quality of the harvest.

Harvest the beans when they are ready to use, as they do not ripen once picked from the vine. To preserve them, dry the beans for long-term storage or blanch them before freezing. For pantry storage, keep the beans unwashed to prevent moisture from causing rot.