Beans
Pole and bush beans (more commonly called green beans) are a tender vegetable and a great addition to any garden, great eaten fresh off the plant or incorporated into a recipe. Bush beans require less maintenance, so they are easier to grow.
Planting
- Pole beans will grow in a climbing vine and require a trellis or staking. Bush beans will spread up to 2 feet but do not require support. Watch this video to learn how to support beans properly.
- Do not start seeds indoors; they may not survive transplanting.
- Seeds can be sown outdoors anytime after last spring frost, minimum soil temp is 48 degrees F. Plant 1 inch deep, a little deeper for sandier soils. Cover soil to warm if necessary.
- Bush beans: Plant 2 inches apart.
- Pole beans: Set up trellises, or “cattle panels,” and plant 3 inches apart.
- If you like pole beans, an easy support for them is a “cattle panel”—a portable section of wire fence—16 feet long and 5 feet tall. The beans will climb with ease, and you won’t have to get into contorted positions to pick them.
- For a harvest that lasts all summer, sow beans every 2 weeks. If you’re going to be away, skip a planting. Beans do not wait for anyone.
- Rotate crops each year.
Care
- Mulch soil to retain moisture; make sure that it is well-drained.
- Water regularly, from start of pod to set. Water on sunny days so foliage will not remain soaked.
- Beans require normal soil fertility. Only fertilize where levels are low. Begin after heavy bloom and set of pods.
- Use a light hand when applying high-nitrogen fertilizer, or you will get lush plants and few beans.
- Weed diligently and use shallow cultivation to prevent disturbing the root systems.
Harvest/Storage
- Beans are picked at an immature stage, when the seeds inside have not yet fully developed.
- Look for firm, sizable pods and snap or cut off the plant. Do not tear the plant.
- Store beans in a moisture-proof, airtight container in the refrigerator. Beans will toughen over time even when stored properly.
- Beans can be kept fresh for about 4 days, or blanched and frozen immediately after harvesting.
- Beans can also be canned or pickled.
Recommended Varieties
- ‘Bush Blue Lake’ (bush): Keeps flavor well after harvest.
- ‘Bountiful’ (bush): Early producer.
- ‘Fortex’ (pole): French variety, large beans.
- ‘Kentucky Wonder’ (pole): Will produce a bountiful harvest.
NUTRITION
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)- Energy 131 kJ (31 kcal)
- Carbohydrates 6.97 g
- Dietary fiber 2.7 g
- Fat 0.22 g
- Protein 1.83 g
- Vitamins
- Vitamin A equiv. (4%) 35 μg
- Thiamine (B1) (7%) 0.082 mg
- Riboflavin (B2) (9%) 0.104 mg
- Niacin (B3) (5%) 0.734 mg
- Pantothenic acid (B5) (5%) 0.225 mg
- Vitamin B6 (11%) 0.141 mg
- Folate (B9) (8%) 33 μg
- Vitamin C (15%) 12.2 mg
- Vitamin K (14%) 14.4 μg
- Minerals
- Calcium (4%) 37 mg
- Iron (8%) 1.03 mg
- Magnesium (7%) 25 mg
- Manganese (10%) 0.216 mg
- Phosphorus (5%) 38 mg
- Potassium (4%) 211 mg
- Zinc (3%) 0.24 mg
- Other constituents
- Fluoride 19 µg