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What a Mung Bean Plant Looks Like

The mung bean plant (Vigna radiata) is a close relative to cow pea, and is developed for dried and bananas beans for human consumption. Mung bean components are also grown as forage for livestock. Mung beans are similar in look to other kinds of beans, and are often known as golden gram, green graham and chop suey beans.

Mung Bean Plant Appearance

Mung bean plants resemble other kinds of garden beans. The plant height may vary significantly from 1 to 5 feet tall, depending on variety. The plants grow 3 -to 4-inch-long pods and every hold 10 to 15 seeds. A typical mung bean plant produces 30 to 40 pods per plant with several pods growing at every leaf axil. As the pods mature, they turn dark brown to black. Mung beans create pale yellow flowers near the surface of the plant in clusters of 12 to 15.

Growth Habit

Mung beans can get an upright or vine growth habit depending on variety. These highly branched plants have been warm season annuals of the legume family with three leaves comparable to other kinds of legumes. Plants are self-pollinated, therefore they do not rely on wind or insects. The mature seeds are round or oblong, and vary in colour from yellow to brown and to mottled green or black, depending on variety.

Mung Bean Growth Requirements

Mung beans need growing conditions similar to soybeans. The plants thrive in well-drained sandy loam with a pH between 5.8 and 7.2. Mung beans require a sunny location, since the crops are day-length sensitive; short days speed up long and flowering days delay bloom production. The beans are generally ready for harvest after 90 to 120 days of frost-free ailments. Mung beans have been harvested by pulling up the entire plant and hanging it upside down to dry.

Mung Bean Uses

Mung beans are employed in both refined and complete form in a variety of foods. The whole seeds are used to create sprouts for salads and other dishes as well as beans for soups. Processed forms of mung beans act as bean flavoring for soup bases and bean flour. Whole mung bean seeds are expensive and not cost effective for use as livestock feed; however, after bean processing and cleaning, leftover substances, such as cracked seed and splits, are used to feed livestock.

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