Beans are warm weather plants and a must have in any backyard garden.. Runner beans produce bright red flowers which brightens the garden along with edible pods which is a win-win. Bees like to buzz around the flowers which is good for pollination. Here is a quick description on how to plant, grow, and harvest beans in your garden.
Seed starting: It is advisable to sow seeds directly on ground. Leave enough spacing between each seed considering the space requirements for a fully mature plant. Beans should not be planted until the danger of frost has passed, and the soil is warmed up (around 65 degrees F or 18 degrees C) for germination.
Types: Two types of beans are common.
- Bush beans: Bush beans are compact plants. They can be grown in a small space and is suitable for a container or patio garden. They don’t climb nor need any stake or trellis. They produce numerous pods and have a short life span. Sow as many seeds to have an abundant harvest throughout the season. Succession planting is advisable.
- Pole beans: All the other beans falls in this category. They are climbing beans which needs support like trellis or tepee to climb and grow over. They can produce profusely throughout the season. A single plant can produce more edible beans than the bush bean variety.
Care: Beans loves the sun, plant it in a sunny spot . Use your choice of fertilizer to boost plant growth as needed. Water plants thoroughly, as beans cannot withstand drought. If growing pole beans, make sure to have the right support structure (trellis, tepee, custom poles etc.) available for the plant to grow to full potential.
Pest: My beans got hit with a mild aphid infestation. Source was another store bought plant. Took care of the aphids in the early stage by spraying with neem oil. But you may have to spray them a couple of times for every two weeks until the aphids are gone. You can also hose down with water.
Harvest: Once matured, it is best to harvest soon. Tender beans are edible and tastes good, mature beans will be more fibrous and tough to chew. Pick the beans regularly to encourage continuous production. Freeze the surplus for winter.
Do you have any other tips and tricks on how to grow beans? If so, drop a note in the comments below.