Growing Beans in Your Home Garden

They are easy to grow and will produce a crop only about 50 days from planting. Beans are a good source of some proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

Before Columbus there were many types of beans eaten in Europe and Asia, but these did not include most of the types we know today. The ediable podded garden beans called snap beans or green beans, the navy, red kidney, pinto, and lima are all beans that originated on the American continents. They became very popular when introduced into Europe and soon were widely distributed.

The American Indians made common use of beans and planted climbing beans along with corn. Beans have undergone much development and improvement. Because beans develop and produce a crop in such a relatively short time 50 to 60 days they can be planted throughout the summer in garden space as it becomes available. Plantings can be made up through early with good results. They are a good replacement for lettuce, radishes, cabbage, and other early crops.

Beans do well in any good garden soil in a sunny location. They may even be grown in large tubs or pots on the patio. There are two major types of green beans bush and pole. Bush types are more popular and mature more quickly. They should be removed and replanted after the main crop is harvested. Pole beans take longer to develop. But once they will produce for a longer period.

Beans are subject to several diseases, and selecting varieties for disease resistance is important. Bean mosaic was once serious but is now fairly uncommon because of the use of resistant varieties. Some of these varieties include Bush Blue Lake, Contender, Tendererop and Toperop.

Other disease problems may be reduced by crop rotation or sprays of a good all-purpose fungicide. Mexican bean beetle is another pest of beans. They are not always present in the small garden, but if they appear sprays of carbaryl (Sevin) will easily being them under control. Yellow bush beans are also available. Some of the best yellow-podded bush beans are Pencil Pod Wax and Kinghorn Wax. Pole beans are excellent if a place for climbing is provided. Lima beans are more difficult to grow in certain climates. To grow lima beans, the soil must be well warmed before they are planted. Because they take longer to develop, only one crop can be grown in the garden in one season.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/ho-175.pdf