Fabaceae: How to Grow Plants from The Pea Family

The pea or Fabaceae family of plants is a sprawling one. There are around 670 genera and nearly 20,000 species of plant in this family. The plants may come in the form of trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs, and many of them will likely be quite familiar to you.

Plants from this family produce fruits that we know as legumes. Lots of these legumes find their way into our kitchen and onto our plates perhaps daily, especially for those on a plant-based diet. That is why it might be worth getting to know this family a little better and familiarizing yourself with some of its perhaps surprising members.

Source: Five-Minute Families/YouTube

Pea family plants are grown by humans as food for themselves, as well as for ground covers, ornamentals, and food for animals. Most all legume plants are nitrogen fixers. This means that they can convert nitrogen from the air and make it available to plant roots in the soil.

Lots of plants in the Fabaceae family are really simple to grow for yourself to use culinarily and medicinally. Note that not all legumes are edible. Some are very toxic to humans.

Beans

Beans (Phaseolus spp.) are extremely numerous in variety. There are beans of every color, beans that vine, grow as shrubs, and ones that are annual or perennial. Kidney, lima, runner, string, butter, navy, black, pinto, and green are just a few of the varieties that are enjoyed in many cuisines.

Beans, in general, are easy to grow. Green beans are particularly rewarding and usually provide a huge yield. The variety you pick might be vining or bush beans. If they are vining, you will need to provide a trellis for them to grow up. Plant your seeds indoors a few weeks before the last frost or direct sow them in the garden after the last frost of spring.

Plant your seeds in a sunny spot about 3 inches apart and an inch deep. Your beans will enjoy rich, well-draining soil.

Soybeans

Source: Renee’s Garden Seeds/YouTube

Soybeans (Glycine max) can come with baggage and issues, but you can avoid all of that by growing a few non-GMO soybeans for yourself.

You can grow soybeans to be eaten as edamame beans or fas dried beans. Just like green beans, soybeans need a warm growing climate, so wait until after the last frost to sow your seeds. Your plants will need to be in a full sun position and require well-draining soil. They are bush beans, so you do not need a tall trellis for them.

If you are looking for dried beans, leave the plants to turn brown and cut the plant right back. This will leave the nitrogen-fixing nodules in the ground. You can then harvest the dried beans for storage. If you’re looking to harvest green soybeans to be eaten as edamame, then you need to harvest them much sooner.

When the pods are plump with protruding soybeans but still green, you can pick them to eat as edamame.

Chickpeas

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Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) are another great plant to grow in your garden. The downside is that each pod usually only has one pea, so you will have to grow a lot to keep yourself in hummus for the year! However, they are still fun and easy plants to grow, and you can get a nice harvest of fresh or dried peas.

Chickpeas need at least three months of temperatures ranging from 50-85 F to mature. They don’t transplant well, so direct sow your seeds in a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Give your plants lots of organic compost.

Just like with the soy beans, pick fresh chickpeas when the pod is still green, but you can feel a plump pea inside. For dried chickpeas, you can wait until the plant has died back before harvesting the dried pods.

Licorice Root

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) was once but has long since been, an ingredient in that sweet licorice candy we all know. Licorice root is a plant in the pea family that can be grown for its medicinal roots. These days, it is found in herbal teas used for sore throats and digestive issues. In large doses, licorice root can have adverse effects on people with certain conditions, so check with a medical professional before using licorice root. 

Licorice root is hardy to zone 3. It is a perennial and, once established, will spread via underground runners. You can grow licorice from seed, but it is easier to buy a plant or harvest a rhizome from an existing plant. You just need a piece of root that has a growing node on it. Plant your roots indoors or directly in the ground in spring in a sunny spot with loose or sandy soil. You can harvest the roots in the fall after the plant has died back.

Related Content:

• What Are Nitrogen-Fixing Plants and Why You Should Be Growing Them
• 7 Plants That Enrich Your Garden Soil
• Soy Consumption and Deforestation: 75 Percent of Soybean Crop Grown in the Amazon is Feed to Livestock
• Why Tofu Consumption Is Not Responsible for Soy-Related Deforestation
• Why Is Everyone Hatin’ On Soy These Days?

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