Green Beans

Numerous varieties of green beans are suitable for a home vegetable garden. The best are stringless bush types that do not require staking. Older varieties had “strings”, a portion of the stem attached to the plant that extended the length of the bean and had to be removed before cooking. Most had a vining habit requiring staking. Stringless beans do not have the tough “string” and grow on low bushy plants allowing a greater yield in a smaller area. Be aware of these differences when purchasing “heirloom” seeds.

Plant beans in mounded rows to make harvesting easier. Soil should be loose and well drained. Watering during dry periods by flooding between the rows, the moisture is quickly absorbed by the loose soil of the raised bed.

Plant the seeds about eight inches apart. Plant two seeds together and remove the weaker plant after they form leaves.

After the plant is six inches tall apply a one inch layer of Nature's Guide Organic Compost or Nature's Guide Cotton Burr Compost around the plants to provide organic matter and insulate the roots for more consistent temperatures. A handful of Nature's Guide Tomato and Pepper Food applied to the soil surface before the compost provides adequate nutrition for good yields.

Aphids are a problem control them with Nature's Guide Tomato and Pepper Spray or Nature's Guide Diatomaceous Earth. Aphids can be tough to spot. They congregate on the under surface of leaves. A sure sign of aphids is a coating of their sticky “honey dew” that will be seen on the lower leaves first.

Pick often to encourage growth. Fast maturing varieties can be planted for a second crop in the fall.

Stringless Green Beans

Bush Green Bean Seed