🌱 How to Grow Cluster Beans (Guar) from Seeds
Also known as:

• Hindi: ग्वार (Gwar)

• Tamil: கொத்தவரை (Kothavarai)

• Telugu: గోరుచిక్కుడు (Goruchikkudu)

• Malayalam: കൊത്തവര (Kothavara)

• Kannada: ಕೊತ್ತವರಿ (Kottavari)

• English: Cluster Beans / Guar

• Botanical Name: Cyamopsis tetragonoloba

1. 🌞 Choose the Right Season

• Type: Warm-season legume crop

• Best time to sow:

  • Spring–Summer: February–April

  • Monsoon: June–August (in well-drained areas)

• Ideal temperature: 25°C–35°C

2. 🌱 Prepare the Soil

• Soil Type: Sandy loam or well-drained loamy soil

• pH: Neutral (6.5–7.5)

• Mix in organic compost or cow dung before sowing

• Add neem cake powder to prevent soil pests

3. 🌾 Sow the Seeds

• Depth: Sow seeds ½–1 inch (1.5–2.5 cm) deep

• Spacing:

  • Garden: 6–8 inches between plants, 12–18 inches between rows

  • Pots: Use 10–12 inch deep containers, sow 2–3 seeds and retain 1–2 healthy seedlings

• Water gently after sowing

4. 💧 Watering

• Keep the soil evenly moist during germination and early growth

• Avoid overwatering; ensure good drainage

• Once established, cluster beans are relatively drought-tolerant

5. 🌿 Germination

• Time: 4–7 days

• Ensure warm temperature and indirect sunlight during sprouting

• Thin out weak seedlings if crowded

6. ☀️ Sunlight & Temperature

• Requires 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Grows best at 25°C to 35°C

• In extreme heat, provide partial shade in the afternoon

7. 🌼 Fertilization

• Enrich soil with compost every 3–4 weeks

• Use liquid seaweed fertilizer or banana peel water during flowering

• Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers — promotes leaves over pods

8. 🛡️ Pest Control

• Common pests: Aphids, mites, caterpillars

• Prevention:

  • Neem oil spray every 10–15 days

  • Remove dried or infested leaves

  • Use sticky traps for flying pests

9. 🧺 Harvesting

• Harvest: 40–60 days from sowing

• Pick when pods are 3–4 inches long and tender

• Regular harvesting promotes more yield

10. 🌾 Regrow Tip

• Leave a few pods on the plant to mature and dry

• Collect seeds, dry thoroughly, and store for next season

🌟 Health Benefits of Cluster Beans (Guar)

• Rich in dietary fiber – supports digestion

• Contains vitamin K & C, calcium, and iron

• Helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol

• Low in calories – great for weight management