How to grow Dry Beans?
- Latin Family: Fabaceae
- Latin Genus: Phaseolus vulgaris
- Ease of Growing: Easy
- Growing Type: Annual
These are unsurpassed from a nutritional and self-sufficiency viewpoint, as they are a major source of protein. They are also a great low maintenance crop.
Dry Beans History
This species has been cultivated for over 6000 years in Central and South America. It is now a very important crop around the world, as beans are the most important source of protein for many people on earth (Black beans, Kidney beans, Pinto beans and others).
They are also important to gardeners for another reason, they (like most members of the Fabaceae) have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria and can actually add nitrogen to the soil they grow in.
Soil Preference
- PH (min/max): 6.0 - 7.5
Beans like a light, well-drained loamy soil, with lots of organic matter.
How to care for Dry Beans?
Drying beans are an easy crop to grow, requiring little attention other than watering in dry weather once they are established.
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist, but don't over water. A lack of water in hot weather will affect the set of the pods, so make sure they are well watered at this time. The most critical time is when they are flowering and sizing up their pods.
Fertilizer
Low nitrogen. Moderate Potassium. Moderate phosphorous.
Beans don't need a lot of nitrogen in the soil because they fix their own. In fact if there is a lot in the soil they won't go to the trouble of fixing it. They do need plenty of potassium and phosphorus though.
They are sometimes planted after a crop that was heavily amended, or after a winter cover crop.
Seeds
Seed Viability: 3
Germination Percentage: 75.0
Beans are amongst the easiest crops to save seed from, you just grow them like dry beans. They are mostly self-pollinating, though insects may cause some cross-pollination. For this reason it is best to have only one variety flowering at a time if possible.
Be aware that some viruses may be transmitted through the seed and try not to gather from diseased plants.
Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily
Full sun.
Conditions:Warm, Hot
Season:Short Season, Long Season
Storage
Storage Req: Dry
Storage Temp: °F
Storage Length: days
Fully dry beans store very well and will stay edible for several years. Store then in a cool place away from direct sunlight.
Storage Req: Dry
Storage Temp: 32-35°F
Storage Length: 1-360 days
Problems
Beans are fairly problem free when growing in suitable conditions.
Pests
- Aphids
- Blister Beetle
- Bean Weevil
- Deer
- Cucumber Beetle
- Groundhog
- Leafhoppers
- Leafminers
- Mexican Bean Beetle
- Nematodes
- Rabbits
- Slugs and snails
- Squash Vine Borers
- Armyworms
- Asparagus Beetle
- June Beetle
- Onion Maggot
- Whiteflies
Diseases
- Anthracnose
- Bacterial Blight
- Halo Blight
- Rust
- Bean Mosaic Virus (BCMV)
- Fusarium Wilt
