Growing beans is a great way to add a touch of green and color to your garden. Grow beans not just because they’re healthy and delicious, but they can also be harvested quickly, making them a great choice for novice gardeners.
Beans are seeds from the Fabaceae family, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family. I love beans because they are nutrient dense; high in fiber and starch plus a good source of protein, iron, and vitamins that offer so many health benefits.
Beans are considered part of the vegetable food group, they may be further classified as a “starchy vegetable,” along with potatoes and squash / pumpkins. Beans come in a number of varieties, but are largely categorised into two types: dwarf or climbing. Climbing beans need full sun and room to spread, so will need to be planted out in the garden. Dwarf beans are perfect for pots.
Let’s dive into how you can grow your own beans in your garden.
Planting Bean Seeds
Soak the bean seeds first overnight. This gets the germination process underway and gets rid of that tasty ‘dried food smell’ that creatures of the night like to raid in freshly seeded garden beds.
Seeds should germinate in 4 – 8 days depending on the variety selected. Bean plants need plenty of water, and this is especially true with the care of potted bean plants. You need to provide irrigation when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil is dry to the touch. Fertilize once a month with a soluble plant food or well-rotted manure.
Types of Beans To Plant
Choosing the Right Variety of Bean
The first step in growing beans is selecting the right variety. There are many varieties out there, so it’s important that you do some research on which ones will work best for your unique climate and soil conditions. Some popular varieties include bush beans, pole beans, fava beans, and soybeans. It’s also important to consider if you want to grow the beans for their pods or their seeds as some varieties are better suited for each than others.
Broad Beans
Sow broad beans in Autumn in deep, and again in Early Spring for succession. The autumn sown beans branch out, and should be given plenty of room, 1 ft. between each plant and 2 1/2 ft. between the rows. The spring-sown need only 1 ft. 6 in. When the beans are well in bloom nearly to the top of the stalk, pinch out the tops; otherwise the tender tops will be attacked by black fly, which will spread downwards all over the plant and ruin it. Gather the beans before the eyes go black.
As a catch crop, some people put beans here and there between the early potatoes — not between the rows. When the beans are all gathered, cut them off against the ground ; do not pull them up by the roots, as the roots have nodules of nitrogen which enrich the soil. The long-pod varieties are the most prolific.
Dwarf Kidney Beans
These must not be sown too early, or the young plants will be cut off by the frost.
Sow in late Spring, and about the third week of the month make a second sowing. Set the beans 3 in. deep in rows 2 ft. apart. Thin out to 8 in. apart when they have three leaves. The beans must be gathered young to be at their peak of tastiness.
Scarlet Runners
Runner beans are one of the most rewarding crops to grow. Sow in middle of Spring. Make two rows, 2 ft. 6 in. apart. As soon as the plants begin to run, stick them with stakes 5 ft. or 6 ft. long, making the sticks meet at the top of the two rows. If sticks are difficult to obtain, a good plan is to put a post with a cross-piece at the top and bottom and to stretch wires between them. From these wires attach vertical strings (binder twine is the most suitable and cheapest) for the beans to climb.
Keep the crop closely gathered and the bearing period will be much prolonged. Runner beans can be grown without sticks by pinching back the runners. They are grown this way in fields, but the beans are curved instead of straight and taste a bit ‘gritty’. At the end of the day… The great thing about beans is that they are part of the legume family and can capture nitrogen from the atmosphere, so when your plants are done for the season, dig them out and add to the compost heap or dig them into the garden bed.
Bean Planting and Watering Tips
Once you have selected the right variety of bean for your garden, it’s time to get planting!
Beans should be planted in an area with full sun exposure and moist soil.
Plant them 1-2 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart from one another.
Make sure that when watering the plants that you water at the base of the plant rather than directly onto the leaves as this can lead to fungal problems later on down the line. Also make sure that you don’t overwater as this will cause more harm than good!
Harvesting Tips
It’s now time for harvesting! Depending on what type of bean you chose, harvesting times may vary but most types of bush beans will be ready after 45-60 days while pole beans may take up to 80 days before they are ready for harvest.
When harvesting, make sure that you pick only ripe pods (if growing pods) or dry seeds (if growing seeds). This will ensure that your plants continue producing at maximum efficiency throughout the season!
Growing your own beans is a rewarding experience and an excellent way to add a dash of green life into your garden. With these tips in mind, you should have no problem getting started with growing these versatile vegetables! Whether you choose bush beans or pole beans – or even something else entirely – remember to keep up with proper watering habits and pay attention when it’s time for harvest so that you can enjoy all your hard work come summertime.
