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Beans  (Phaseolus vulgaris)

GROWING SUMMARY​

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  • Onions are frost hardy and germinate best between

  • Timing:  

  • Direct Seeding

  • Growing Seedlings
    Germination temperature

  • Bed Preparation
    Raised beds
    On the flat

  • Plant Spacing
    Germination temperature

  • Irrigation
    Germination temperature

  • Pests and Diseases
    Germination temperature

  • Harvesting
    November – January depending on variety & location

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GROWING SUMMARY​

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  • Beans are quick growing, frost tender annuals. Highly nutritious and a staple in any summer vegetable garden.

  • Sow the seeds straight into the ground after the danger of frost has passed. Plant the seeds 20mm deep, and 200-300mm apart. Row spacing depends on variety. Dwarf beans which only grow to about 0.5 metres high and don't need trellising grow well 2 rows to a bed with rows spaced 300-400mm apart. Climbing beans grow very high and need some sort of trellising. The type of trellising you use will determine the row spacing. It may have to be a metre or more to allow easy access for picking.

  • Fresh green beans need to be picked regularly. They are at their best when picked before the seeds inside the pods start to mature. Pick them by pulling them close to where they attach to the plant and be very concious of the feel of the pod. They will be delicious and tender if the end of the pod feels hard. If they feel soft and empty where they attach to the plant it is an indication that the seeds are starting to mature and the beans will be will be stringy and tough, 

  • Drying beans are left on the plant until the shell has dried out and the beans are full sized and hard.

VARIETIES​

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  • ​Bush Beans produce very heavy yields over a short period of time. There are lots of varieties available both heirloom and modern F1 varieties. For summer long production plant several successions, 4-6 weeks apart.

  • Climbing (pole) beans need support but if the beans are picked regularly, before any of them get over mature they can be picked for months. Climbing beans also tend to have more flavour than dwarf beans. Again there are lots of varieties and save some of your own seed if you find an old fashioned variety that you like. Lazy House wife is a south coast favourite being grown by gardeners in Moruya. A big, great tasting, stringless bean.

  • Drying Beans are in the ground for many months and are best suited to larger garden.

MORE INFORMATION

Seed Saving

Beans self pollinate making it very easy to collect seed from any open pollinated, old fashioned variety. Just grow them as you would any dried beens picking the pods when they are very dry and the seeds starting to rattle. Don't leave them on the plants too long or the pots may open and the seeds fall out.

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Weeds, Pests and Diseases

Weeds are easy to control with a bit of hoeing or a deep mulch and if the soil is well prepared with plenty of organic matter and some lime pests and diseases should not be a big problem. 

 

Trellising

Beans can grow really high so trellises need to be between 1.5 and 2 metres high. Repurpose posts, wire and weld mesh. Whatever you have lying around. You can also make teepees out of bamboo canes, willow. etc... They can be simple and straight forward or you can make beautiful arches but whatever you decide make sure that your structure is solid so that it can't be blown over by wind.  These high trellises will also be used for climbing peas, cucumbers, pumpkins and gourds and indeterminate (climbing) tomatoes. 

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