How to plant green beans
Versatile on the table and fun to grow in the garden, beans come in a number of different shapes and sizes that are sure to find a regular spot among your favorite garden fresh vegetables. Follow our directions below to learn how to grow your own beans in the garden.
Step One: Knowing where and when to plant your beans are the two most important considerations you have. Beans should be planted in a spot in your garden where they will receive the suns attention for at least 8 hours every day. In addition to location, timing is very important. Beans cannot go into the ground until the soil reaches a temperature of at least 60 degrees. The best way to tell if the ground is ready is to test it with a thermometer.
Step Two: Before you plant your beans you may want to take the time to enrich your soil. Beans do very well in soil that is nitrogen rich. Beans will actually take nitrogen right out of the air and use it. To help them along, put the seeds in a plastic bag or jar, spray them with water and shake a bit of the inoculants on them. Whatever nitrogen isn't used by the beans will be left in the soil for the next seasons' crop.
Step Three: Beans do best if they can grow and climb similar to ivy. A teepee is usually employed as the beans can be planted around the entire base. Space your beans about six inches apart around the entire base and cover them with about 1 1/2 inches of soil. Water regularly, be sure to pull your weeds, and you will be ready for harvest in about four months.
When the end of the season rolls around you should have bush beans dying back slightly and pole beans wilting. Don't worry, this is just a sign that the beans are ready for harvest. Just to be sure, the shell should be dry and crispy and you may even hear some of the beans rattling inside the pods as you pick them. Get the beans inside by popping the pod and pulling them out. Store them in an airtight container and you can enjoy them in your cooking all season long.
