Green beans are an excellent addition to any backyard garden. In addition to being a scrumptious and healthy garden treat, green beans can improve soil fertility by setting nitrogen in their roots.
Because they’re easy to grow and harvest, they are a good gateway crop for beginning gardeners, too.
Growing Green Beans
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Green beans come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors and can be grown in just about any garden space in most climates, says Derek Markham for Tree Hugger.
Take the beans into the kitchen and just about anything goes. You can roast them, can them, steam them, or pickle them. You are likely to harvest so much you just might be able to try all of these preparation methods.
If you want to grow green beans in your garden this year, consider these tips for how to grow green beans in your backyard.
Starting Your Seeds
You can begin your seeds indoors around two-to-three weeks before the final frost of the season. Pay attention to the instructions on the seed packet. When the seedlings are ready for transplanting outdoors, plant them in a sunny spot with loose, nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. Plant your seedlings in single groupings that are at least 8 to 10 inches apart.
If you intend to use a seed starting kit, you can put a few seeds for each inch-deep hole and thin out the sprouts once they emerge. If you have limited space, green beans will also do well in a container garden. A 12-inch pot will usually suffice. Just be sure you add a trellis arrangement so the beans can grow upwards.
Caring for Green Beans
Once planted, you should water the beds to stay evenly moist until all of the seedlings emerge from the ground, at which point the surface of the soil can be allowed to dry out between watering.
In all, your green beans will need about 2 inches of water per week, especially when the beans start to flower. Water at the base of the plant to avoid saturating the greenery which can lead to rot and disease. A thick mulch under the plants will keep the soil moist and cool in the middle of summer.
Avoid any synthetic fertilizers on your plants. Many of those contain ingredients that can actually hinder the growth of green bean plants.
Pests are not usually a problem with green beans. If you see any on your plants, pick them off or use a food-safe pest-repellent product. If you notice any browning or rust color on your plants, mildew or rot may have set in. Remove the infected parts.
Harvesting Green Beans
Green beans will be ready to harvest when you small bean bumps appear inside of the pods. Do not wait for the beans to grow any bigger once the bumps appear. Simply twist them from the vine. You can use scissors, as well. Do not pull the pods. Doing so could easily injure the plant.
Are you ready to grow green beans in your backyard?
