How long until harvest?

Most varieties are ready to harvest in 60 to 90 days.

Can I grow them in pots?

Yes, they grow well in containers at least 20 centimeters deep.

Plant guide

Mung bean.

Vigna radiata

Pronounced VIG-nuh ray-dee-AY-tuh

Also known as Celera-bean, Green Gam, Green Gram, Jerusalem Pea, Mung Bean, Mung-bean, green-gram, mungo-bean

Mung beans are fast growing legumes that are often grown for their edible seeds or as nutritious sprouts. They are a staple in many kitchens because they are easy to start and quick to harvest. You will love how simple they are to cultivate in a small garden or even on your kitchen counter.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual legume
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 2 to 4 days
Mature size: 2 to 3 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 12
Bloom time: Mid to late summer

Care

Provide plenty of sunlight and keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Watch for yellowing leaves which often indicate the soil is staying too wet for too long.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season.
Feeding: A balanced fertilizer helps support pod production.
Pruning: Pruning is generally not needed as you harvest the entire plant.
Repotting: These are annuals and do not require repotting.
Soil: Well draining loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: 15 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Annual, typically 3 to 4 months
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes.
Plant growth slows significantly.

Safety

People: The plant is non-toxic, though raw seeds contain compounds that may cause digestive discomfort.
Children: The small, hard seeds pose a choking hazard to small children if left unattended.
Contact allergens: None notable.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may cause mild reactions in highly sensitive individuals.
Edibility: Raw mung beans should be cooked thoroughly to neutralize anti-nutritional factors like lectins.

How to identify it

Compound leaves with three leaflets
Small yellow pea like flowers
Slender hairy green seed pods
Small round olive green seeds

Height: 0.3 to 1m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.5m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: green, brown, black, Late summer to early autumn

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
Damping OffUncommon
Leaf SpotUncommon
Mexican Bean BeetleUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon
Pod BorerRare

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: Spring, Early summer
Overwintering: This is an annual plant that completes its life cycle in one season and does not require overwintering.
In containers: They grow well in containers at least 20 centimeters deep with good drainage.

Direct Sowing

1. Wait until soil is warm.
2. Plant seeds 2 centimeters deep.
3. Space seeds 10 centimeters apart.
4. Keep soil moist until germination.

Plant alongside heavy feeders like corn to take advantage of the nitrogen fixation provided by the beans.

Grows well with

Corn · Corn provides structural support for the bean vines.
Cucumber · Beans provide nitrogen that helps cucumber growth.

Keep away from

Onion · Onions may inhibit the growth of legumes when planted in close proximity.

Similar species

Adzuki bean · Similar growth habit and agricultural use.

Science

Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Vigna
Order: Fabales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Indian subcontinent
Conservation: Not of conservation concern as it is a widely cultivated agricultural crop.

It thrives in warm climates and relies on symbiotic bacteria to fix nitrogen in the soil.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, nitrogen fixing
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: culinary, sprouting, cover crop, green manure

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How long until harvest?: Most varieties are ready to harvest in 60 to 90 days.
Can I grow them in pots?: Yes, they grow well in containers at least 20 centimeters deep.

Where the name comes from

The name Vigna honors the Italian botanist Domenico Vigna, while radiata refers to the radial arrangement of the seeds.

Good to know

Mung beans are one of the fastest growing sprouts.
They are an excellent source of plant-based protein.
The plant improves soil health by fixing atmospheric nitrogen.

Keep your mung bean growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.