1. Best Sowing Time:

Throughout the year..

2. Soil Temprature:

Optimal soil temperature: 10-30°C (50-85°F). Seeds should germinate in 4-7 days.

3. Steps for Seed Sowing Method:

• Take a container of your choice with drainage holes at the bottom. .
• Fill the container with proper potting layers & selected growing medium..
• Sow 2 seeds at the centre of the pot.

Spacing:
• On raised beds, sow two seeds per spot in a spacing of 2 x 2 ft.
• Push the seeds a little in the soil medium with your fingers & completely cover them with surrounding soil.
• Water the sown seed bed immediately by a light shower using a watering can.

4. Growth Steps of Shemphali Plants

• Sprouting Stage: Seeds will germinate within first 6-8 days & tiny sprouts will be visible. .
• Cotyledons: The first two leaves will emerge in the second week of germination. These are false leaves called as cotyledons.
• First leaves: First leaves will emerge above cotyledons at the end of the second week.
• Seedling stage: Second week onwards, seedlings will start growing into a small plant. .
• Thinning: After the second week, keep only single seedling at one spot, cut off the weak, small & lagging seedlings with a pair of scissors.

5. How to Take Care For Shemphali Plants

• Sunlight: French bean plant requires full sunlight. Therefore your raised bed should be made at a bright sunny spot. Keep the French bean container under open sunlight. .
• Watering: Water your potted Shemphali plant every day in summer & every other day in winter. Water at the soil near the plant. Use a watering can and make sure that the plants get water in the form of a shower & not by a single flow.
• Trellis: Surti papdi plant is a bushy Vine & needs plenty of space to grow. So develop a strong trellis support up to height of 5-6 ft, by using locally available material like pipes, bamboo, ropes, wires etc. for your Surati Papdi plant.
• Top Dressing: When your French bean plant is more than 45 days old, provide one tablespoon of 15:15:15 (NPK) fertilizer per plant or mix handful of Vermicompost in the soil around each plant.
• Plant care: Always look for the early signs of any insect/fungal/ any other infections. Spray appropriate medicines as soon as any symptoms of such diseases are spotted.
• Harvesting: (45 to 50 days from sowing) Surti Papdi will start flowering at second month itself. You can start harvesting fresh Surti Papdi pods after 45-50 on seed sowing. Harvesting season can continue for very long time as long as plant survives.