Beans

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Botanical name: Phaseolus vulgaris

Plant type: Vegetable

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Sun exposure: Full Sun

Soil type: Loamy

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.
• 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.

Pests

• Aphids
• Mexican Bean Beetles
• Japanese Beetles
• White Mold
• Mosaic Viruses
• Bean blossoms will drop from the plant if the weather is too hot and too much nitrogen in the soil will prevent pods from setting.

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.

Recipes

• Green Bean Soup
• Green Beans Viennese

Wit & Wisdom

Beans are commonly used in everyday expressions to indicate something of little value. Consequently, someone who isn't worth a hill of beans is seen as being worth very little, although one could argue that today a hill of beans costs a pretty penny.