SKU

AVBENLGSED27

How to plant beans

Sow bush bean seeds 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart. Plant a little deeper in sandy soils (but not too deep). For pole beans, set up trellises, stakes, or other supports prior to planting so that the plants’ fragile roots are not disturbed. Plant pole bean seeds about 1 inch deep and 3 inches apart. One option is to create a tepee: Tie 3 to 4 (or more) 7-foot-long bamboo poles or long, straight branches together at the top and splay the legs in a circle. Then plant 3 or 4 seeds around each pole. As vines appear, train them to wind up the poles. For more stability, wrap string/wire around the poles about halfway up, encircling the tepee; this gives the vines something to grab. Tip: If you like pole beans, another 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 bean seeds every 2 weeks. If you’re going to be away and unable to harvest, skip a planting. Beans do not wait for anyone! Practice crop rotation (planting crops in different areas each year) to avoid the build up of pests and diseases in one spot.

Care

Mulch soil around bean plants to retain moisture; make sure that it is well-drained. Beans have shallow roots, so mulch keeps them cool. Water regularly, about 2 inches per square foot per week. If you do not keep beans well watered, they will stop flowering. Water on sunny days so that foliage will not remain soaked, which could encourage disease. If necessary, begin fertilizing after heavy bloom and the set of pods. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizer or you will get lush foliage and few beans. A side dressing of compost or composted manure halfway through the growing season is a good alternative to liquid fertilizer. Weed diligently but carefully to avoid disturbing the shallow root systems of the beans. Pinch off the tops of pole bean vines when they reach the top of the support. This will force them to put energy into producing more pods instead. In high heat, use row covers over young plants; hot weather can cause blossoms to drop from plants, reducing harvest.

Pests/Diseases

Anthracnose Aphids Cucumber Beetles Cutworms Japanese Beetles Mexican Bean Beetles (These beetles eat the flowers, beans and especially leaves of beans.) Powdery Mildew Mosaic Viruses (Try to keep vines dry by not crowding plants and providing ample air circulation) Slugs/Snail (These pests are attracted to damp conditions.) White Mold (Avoid damp conditions) Whiteflies Woodchucks