Beans

tahanson43206 · 2024-11-30 09:56:35

This topic is offered to give NewMars members a place to concentrate on a specific vegetable.

What I'm looking for is a topic that a reader can read from top to bottom with expectation that each post will contribute in some way to the body of knowledge that will be needed to grow this category of plant successfully on Mars.

This topic is intended to run in parallel with other topics such as Crops and Greenhouses.

If a member decides to contribute, please keep the objective in mind... we want to accumulate the knowledge a person would need to grow this particular variety of plant on Mars.

Plants will be grown above and below ground on Mars.

For purposes of focus, I am offering a version of RobertDyck's long, narrow greenhouse as a model for posts that would seek to collect and present information about how to grow a particular variety of plant. The model greenhouse has a footprint of 4 meters by 10 meters, and mirrors on either side. It will be robust enough to hold glass panes in a frame, able to withstand the standard Mars atmosphere of 3-5-8.

(th)

tahanson43206 · 2024-11-30 09:57:27

This post is reserved for an index to posts that may be contributed by NewMars members over time.

(th)

tahanson43206 · 2024-11-30 10:08:35

This post is a report on a particular collection of beans by a particular vendor in the United States.

The floor is open for presentation of similar lists from other Nations...

In a package called "Vendor" Bean MEDLEY we find:

1) Peas
2) Pinto beans
3) Red beans
4) Pink beans
5) Light red kidney beans
6) Great Northern beans
7) Baby lima beans
8) Lima beans
9) Black eyed beans
10) Navy beans
11) Black beans
12) Yellow split peas
13) Green split peans
14) Garbanzo beans
15) Lentils

UPC available upon request

I am hoping that this topic will eventually contain all the knowledge (including practical tips) that a person would need to grow each of these varieties on Mars, in a model greenhouse. Plans should include provision for dealing with variations in sunlight with the seasons on Mars, occasional sand storms, and whatever else Nature will toss into the mix.

(th)

RobertDyck · 2024-11-30 11:45:03

When Tom says 3-5-8 atmosphere, he's referencing my recommendation for zero prebreathe for a spacesuit with 3.0 psi pure oxygen. Habitat atmosphere is actually 2.8 psi O2 + 3.5 psi N2 + enough Ar to top off to 1/2 Earth's sea level pressure. Total pressure 7.348 psi. At 70% relative humidity at 1 atmosphere pressure, partial pressure of water is 1.6 kPa, so at 1/2 atmosphere water will be 1/2 that. 0.8 kPa = 0.116 psi.

A greenhouse will have elevate CO2 to accelerate plant growth. This is a government of Ontario website with details. (A Canadian province.) It recommends increasing CO2 from 340 ppm (Ontario ambient) by an additional 1,000 ppm. This increases photosynthesis by 20%.

Increased CO2 levels will shorten the growing period (5%–10%), improve crop quality and yield, as well as, increase leaf size and leaf thickness. The increase in yield of tomato, cucumber and pepper crops is a result of increased numbers and faster flowering per plant.

Supplemental carbon dioxide in greenhouses
The issue is ratio of O2 to CO2. CO2 is supposed to bind to RUBP as the first step of the dark reaction of photosynthesis aka the Calvin-Benson Cycle. O2 in Earth's atmosphere is 20.946% which is 209,460 ppm. This is a ratio of 1,340 / 209,460 then multiply by our 2.8 psi of O2 = 0.0179 psi (to 3 significant figures).

So total: 2.8 psi O2 + 3.5 psi N2 + 0.116 psi H2O + 0.0179 psi CO2 = 6.4339 psi. Top up to 7.348 psi requires 0.9141 psi Argon. Or round CO2 to 0.018 psi so Ar is 0.914 psi.

Note: 0.018 psi CO2 in this pressure is 0.245%, and 2% on Earth will give you a mild headache. So it's roughly 1/10th of that. Perfectly safe.

RobertDyck · 2024-11-30 12:27:51

So let's focus on sunlight, humidity, soil pH, soil nutrients, and soil moisture. Or do we use hydroponics?

Do we need all these beans? Soy has the highest protein per unit mass of produce. Black beans are tasty, have the second highest protein, and produce least flatulence. I'll argue for peas, red lentils, and red kidney beans for recipes. Kidney beans are traditional for chilli. Black beans and rice make a Cuban dish called Moros. Garbanzo beans are another name for chick peas. Yellow peas are used for pea soup. Lima beans also have high protein and are tasty when cooked with butter or margarine.

Healthy bones require a diet with calcium and magnesium. Also phosphate, but foods have lots of that. Enzymes to build bone require silicon and strontium. Dietary source of magnesium, silicon and strontium are dark green vegetables (not iceberg lettuce). Most common in North American diet is broccoli and green beans. Spinach, kale, and romaine lettuce work too. Caesar salad has romaine. This is about beans so I will argue for green beans, also known as French beans, string beans, or snap beans.

White beans aka navy beans are baked with sauce to make baked beans aka brown beans. Do we want that?

Great Northern Beans are just a white bean that's particularly fond of colder climates. (From a Canadian website.) Do we need two white beans?

My girlfriend likes Brussels sprouts. They're good if not over cooked and soaked in margarine. She doesn't like green beans. And some people have various tips about kale, such as add butter to kale to make it easier to scrape into the garbage.

RobertDyck · 2024-11-30 13:25:40

How to Grow and Care for Common Beans

When to Plant
The most important rule of growing common beans is not to plant too early. Plant in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. Seeds sown too early can rot in cold, damp soil, and the plants need warm weather to thrive.
Selecting a Planting Site
Choose a planting site that gets lots of sun and has organically rich soil with sharp drainage. Make sure there are no tall shrubs or trees nearby that will create too much shade for the beans. Beans also can be grown in raised beds and containers.
Spacing, Depth, and Support
In general, plant seeds about an inch deep, and position nursery plants at the same depth they were in their previous container.
Plant bush beans in rows 2.5 to 3 feet apart, with seeds placed 1 to 2 inches apart. After the plants germinate, thin the seedlings to 3 to 4 inches apart.
Pole beans need some type of support on which to grow. The support should be 6 to 8 feet tall. Be sure the support is in place before you seed. Space supports roughly 3 to 4 feet apart.
Light
Beans need full sun for the best yield. Full sun also helps to keep the plants dry and less likely to be affected by certain issues, such as fungal diseases.
Soil
Beans like organically rich loamy soil with a slightly acidic pH. Good soil drainage also is key. Remove weeds prior to planting to prevent competition for soil nutrients and moisture. As the beans grow, weed carefully around the plants, as their shallow roots are easily damaged.
Water
Common beans need 1 inch of water per week. Use a drip irrigation system for supplemental watering to avoid splashing soil onto the leaves, which can lead to soil-borne diseases. To determine whether the plants need water, stick your finger about 1 inch into the soil near the base of the plant. If the soil is dry, it's time to water. Plants that are underwatered will stop flowering. Beans have shallow roots, and mulching can help to keep them cool and preserve moisture in the soil.
Temperature and Humidity
Common beans germinate best when the soil temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If the soil temperature is below 60 degrees, seeds will germinate more slowly and are susceptible to rot. The plants grow best when the air temperature is between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Beans tend to stop flowering in the extreme heat of summer. But keep them well-watered, and they will resume flowering and production when temperatures cool. Moreover, common beans grow in all humidity conditions if properly watered.
Fertilizer
As legumes, beans fix nitrogen in the soil, so avoid a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Instead, use a 10-20-10 fertilizer to feed the plants throughout the growing season, following the product directions. Pole beans produce over such a long period that they also will benefit from a side dressing of compost about halfway through their growing season.
Pollination
Most bean varieties are self-pollinators. The blossoms are so-called "perfect flowers" that include both male and female parts. Pollination within each flower usually happens reliably just from gentle breezes, though bees and other pollinators can assist in the process. But it is not necessary to grow different varieties or multiple plants in order to ensure cross-pollination, as is the case with some species.

New Mars Forums

Announcement

#1 2024-11-30 09:56:35

Beans

#2 2024-11-30 09:57:27

Re: Beans

#3 2024-11-30 10:08:35

Re: Beans

#4 2024-11-30 11:45:03

Re: Beans

#5 2024-11-30 12:27:51

Re: Beans

#6 2024-11-30 13:25:40

Re: Beans

Board footer