How to grow Bean?
- Latin Family: Fabaceae
- Latin Genus: Phaseolus
- Ease of Growing: Moderate
- Growing Type: Annual
Bush beans and pole beans are the two most important types of beans that are available. Beans can be grown in almost all planting zones, differences are mainly due to the differences in bean varieties.
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Bean 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, as 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
- PH Ideal (min/max): 6.7 - 7.0
Beans like a light, well-drained loamy soil, with lots of organic matter.
How to care for Bean?
Growing beans is quite simple. As long as they are planted in an area that gets good sunlight, are kept evenly watered, and given the proper amount of support, they will grow, well, ... like beanstalks!
Water
Beans should have evenly moist soil at all times. Water lightly at planting, medium at flowering, and heavily throughout harvest time. Avoid overhead watering which can promote disease.
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 - 5 Years
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. Isolate bean varieties a minimum of 25' for home use. For pure seed an isolation distance of 100-150' is required.
Be aware that some viruses may be transmitted through the seed. Try not to gather from diseased plants.
Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily
Full sun.
Conditions:Cool, Warm, Hot
Season:Short Season, Long Season
Storage
For long term storage green beans can be dried, pickled or frozen.
Storage Req: Canning, Drying, Freezer
Storage Temp: °F
Storage Length: days
Green beans may be stored in plastic bags in the fridge for a few days. This is usually done until you have harvested enough for a meal.
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 32-35°F
Storage Length: 1-7 days
Dry Beans are one of the best keeping food items. Store in a plastic bag, can, or container in a food pantry or cabinet.
Storage Req: Dry
Storage Temp: 60-70°F
Storage Length: 1-360 days
Green beans may be stored in plastic bags in the fridge for a few days. This is usually done until you have harvested enough for a meal.
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 32-35°F
Storage Length: 1-7 days
Problems
Bean Types
- Shelling
- Snap (Bush)
- Dry (Pole)
- Snap (Pole)
- Dry (Bush)
Shell beans are varieties of beans that are eaten when they reach full size in the pod, but before they start to harden and mature. The soft beans are shelled out and cooked.
Also known as string beans, French beans or green beans, this easy crop is a mainstay of the traditional vegetable garden. They were once commonly called string beans, but most modern varieties don't have strings.
Bush varieties are shorter and mature faster than pole varieties, but only produce for 1 - 3 weeks. Bush beans are great candidates for succession sowing for this reason.
Dry beans are easy to grow and store and are one of the most important sources of protein for people on earth. They come in a wide variety of sizes and colors and may be known as pinto beans, kidney beans, navy beans, white beans or black beans. All are the same species (Phaseolus Vulgaris), however.
Pole varieties are taller and will need some sort of support. Pole beans take longer to mature, but produce for an extended harvest for 6 - 8 weeks.
Also known as string beans, French beans or green beans, this easy crop is a mainstay of the traditional vegetable garden. They were once commonly called string beans, but most modern varieties don't have strings.
Pole varieties are taller and will need some sort of support. Pole beans take longer to mature, but produce for an extended harvest for 6 - 8 weeks.
Dry beans are easy to grow and store and are one of the most important sources of protein for people on earth. They come in a wide variety of sizes and colors and may be known as pinto beans, kidney beans, navy beans, white beans or black beans. All are the same species (Phaseolus Vulgaris), however.
These varieties are shorter, bush varieties. Bush varieties mature faster than pole varieties, but only produce for 1 - 3 weeks. Bush beans are great candidates for [succession sowing] for this reason.
Pests
- Aphids
- Blister Beetle
- Bean Weevil
- Deer
- Cucumber Beetle
- Gophers
- Groundhog
- Leafhoppers
- Leafminers
- Mexican Bean Beetle
- Nematodes
- Rabbits
- Slugs and snails
- Armyworms
- June Beetle
- Whiteflies
- Mealybug
- Flea Beetle
- Tarnished Plant Bug
- Wireworm
Diseases
- Anthracnose
- Bacterial Wilt
- Curly Top
- Bacterial Blight
- Halo Blight
- Rust
- Bean Mosaic Virus (BCMV)
- Fusarium Wilt
- Downy Mildew
- Powdery Mildew
