Where to Buy Inoculant for Beans: A Complete Guide

If you’re planning to grow beans this season, using an inoculant is highly recommended to boost yields and nutrition. But where exactly can you purchase high-quality inoculants for beans?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about buying effective inoculants for beans, from understanding what they are to where to find them

What is Inoculant and Why Use it for Beans?

Bean inoculants are agricultural products containing rhizobia bacteria specific to legumes like beans and peas When applied to seeds or soil, the live bacteria colonize the roots and form nodules. Inside these nodules, the bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia the plant can use to grow and produce higher yields

Using an inoculant when sowing bean seeds introduces the essential rhizobia needed for optimal nitrogen fixation. While some rhizobia may exist naturally in the soil, their populations can be too low to fully inoculate an entire crop. Providing a concentrated dose via inoculant ensures abundant nitrogen for your beans.

Inoculants rich in the rhizobium species appropriate for your chosen bean variety will:

• Increase yields by 15-30% on average
• Enhance bean nutrition with usable nitrogen
• Improve soil fertility over time as nitrogen is fixed and recycled
• Reduce need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers
• Help beans thrive without irrigation or perfect soil conditions

The bottom line is inoculants lead to bigger, healthier bean harvests!

Where to Buy Inoculant for Different Types of Beans

Where you purchase inoculant will depend on the specific bean type you are growing. While offerings may overlap, most sellers specialize in certain legumes.

For common beans like kidney, pinto, navy, etc:

• Garden centers or hardware stores with garden sections
• Online retailers like Amazon or smaller niche seed sellers
• Direct from inoculant manufacturers like BASF or Novozymes

For peanuts:

• Farm/agricultural supply stores
• Online agriculture product websites
• Direct from peanut inoculant producers like BASF or Monsanto

For soybeans:

• Large online ag retailers like Farmers Business Network, Growers Supply, Gempler’s, etc.
• Agricultural co-ops and seed suppliers in your region
• Directly from soybean inoculant makers like BASF or Bayer

For fava beans:

• Online retailers specializing in cover crops or grain farming
• Small farm supply stores with cover crop sections
• Directly from fava-specific inoculant companies

For garden beans like broad beans:

• Local garden stores and nurseries
• Online specialty seed sellers
• Companies selling inoculants marketed for home gardens

So check with local nurseries, garden shops, and farms supplies focused on your bean crop to find the right inoculant product.

What to Look for When Buying Inoculant

To ensure you get effective inoculant for your beans, look for:

• Correct rhizobia species: Matching the right rhizobia bacterium and bean type is crucial. For example, soybeans need Bradyrhizobium japonicum while beans need Rhizobium phaseoli. Verify the species is appropriate.

• Freshness: Check the expiration date and buy recently produced inoculant close to planting time. The bacteria have a limited shelf life.

• Proper storage: Select refrigerated inoculant stored correctly to maintain live bacteria. Avoid packages left at room temperature.

• Application directions: Choose products with clear instructions for your bean type. Methods differ for seed inoculation versus in-furrow or spray applications.

• Manufacturer reputation: Trust established companies with a history in inoculants like BASF, Bayer, Novozymes, Pivot Bio, and others.

• Good value: Compare costs to find an effective product within your budget.

With a quality, fresh inoculant matched to your beans, you can be sure nitrogen fixation will be strong.

How to Apply Inoculant to Bean Seeds

Using inoculant properly is vital to reap the benefits for your bean crop. Follow these key steps:

• Read the instructions. Every inoculant will have specific directions to follow. Methods vary between products.

• Plan ahead. Purchase inoculant shortly before planting to ensure bacteria are still live and active.

• Mix with seeds. Use the adhesive or sticking agent provided to evenly coat seeds with inoculant.

• Plant promptly. Sow inoculated seeds within 24 hours before bacteria start to decline.

• Seal leftovers. Return unused inoculant to the fridge immediately to preserve bacteria for future use within expiry window.

Adhering closely to the given instructions will guarantee your seeds sprout with their nitrogen-fixing partners on board!

How Much Inoculant Do You Need?

Inoculant application rates are measured in ounces or grams of product per pounds or kilograms of seed. Typical rates are:

• Common beans: 2 fluid ounces inoculant per 50 lbs of seed
• Soybeans: 2.8 fluid ounces per 50 lbs of seed
• Peanuts: 1.5 ounces per 100 lbs of seed

Some formulas can also be applied directly in furrows or sprayed over soil at higher rates. Refer to the label for how much you need per area planted.

You can also find helpful bean inoculant calculators online to determine exactly how much you require for your chosen seeding rate and acreage.

Buying a slightly larger amount than needed is wise in case you need to replant beans due to weather. And if you have leftovers, they store well refrigerated for use next season.

When to Inoculate Bean Seeds

Timing matters when introducing inoculants to your beans! Follow these tips:

• Purchase fresh: Buy new inoculant each year you grow beans to ensure live bacteria.

• Inoculate just before planting: Treat seeds within 24 hours of sowing so bacteria survive.

• Plant promptly: Sow inoculated seeds ASAP to maintain inoculant effectiveness.

• Inoculate again after rainfall: Re-inoculate if heavy rain washes inoculant from seeds after planting.

• Inoculate re-planted beans: Coat seeds again if re-seeding due to poor emergence or weather damage.

With good timing, the inoculant bacteria will be ready to colonize bean roots and provide nitrogen as soon as seeds germinate and sprouts emerge.

Are Inoculants Compatible With Bean Seed Treatments?

Most inoculants work well alongside typical bean seed treatments like:

• Fungicides for disease protection
• Insecticides for pest control
• Micronutrients and growth promoters

But some older products caution against mixing with fungicides. Always check the inoculant label and follow any restrictions when using with other seed treatments.

Newer formulas are designed for compatibility with different products. Manufacturers will indicate if the inoculant can be combined directly with certain treatments, or whether they need to be applied separately.

With biofertilizers like rhizobia inoculants playing a bigger role, compatibility is a priority for seed treatment research.

Can Inoculants Be Used for Multiple Bean Varieties?

Some general legume inoculants can be applied to multiple bean types, including:

• Common beans like pinto, navy, great northern, kidney, snap, etc.
• Lima beans
• Runner beans
• Adzuki beans
• Mung beans

But for best results, choose an inoculant tailored to your specific bean variety when possible.

Soybeans, peanuts, peas, lentils, and fava beans each need their own unique rhizobia species so require variety-specific inoculant.

Heirloom and hybrid beans likely perform better with a more precise match as well. Discuss options with retailers to pick the ideal product.

Using a broad spectrum or multi-strain inoculant does offer flexibility. Just ensure your beans are covered.

Can Inoculants Be Saved for Use Next Season?

Unused inoculant can be stored for reuse on your bean crop next year. Follow these tips for best results:

• Place opened inoculant bags inside an airtight container.
• Refrigerate inoculant immediately at 35-40°F.
• Use refrigerated inoculant within expiry date on the package.
• When reusing, give seeds heavier coating for older product.
• Purchase fresh inoculant each year for optimal bacteria viability.

With proper storage at cool temperatures, you can safely apply last year’s extra inoculant at planting time the following season.

Get Growing With Bean Inoculant

Now that you know where to source quality inoculants matched to your specific beans, you can look forward to increased yields, enhanced nutrition, and improved soil health.

Be sure to inoculate bean seeds properly just before planting for strong nitrogen fixation all season. And refresh your supply annually for best results year after year.

With the right inoculant for your crop, you’ll be harvesting bushels of beautiful beans in no time!