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Let’s Grow Green Beans
Just like most all other vegetables, home-grown green beans are the best. “Fresh” green beans bought at the local grocery have been produced to withstand being hauled for days before reaching the retail stores. The green beans are tough and have very little flavor. So, try growing at home.
You will need space for them to grow, since the plants must not be crowded. Green beans are very susceptible to mold and therefore need to have good air circulation around each plant. If at all possible, water the plants at their bases. If this is not possible, water in the early morning hours so the plants can dry during the day.
Green beans don’t need special treatment to grow. Good garden soil, full sun and regular watering (approximately one inch of water a week) will produce a lot of green beans. When choosing your seeds, be sure to read the packet directions on spacing and how deep to plant the seed.
Don’t try to start green bean plants inside. Green beans almost never withstand transplanting. Don’t pre-soak the seeds since green bean seeds are delicate and damage easily.
If you plant the bush type of green beans, no support is needed for them, but if you plant pole beans, you will need to provide sturdy supports for the vines. Pole bean vines can grow as high as six to eight feet tall, so have strong trellises or poles to support the vines in place before planting.
The Mexican bean beetle can be a serious threat to green beans. If you grow bush beans, covering the plants with fabric row covers or in hot climates, shade cloth, will keep the beetles from invading and laying their eggs. The eggs are laid on the underside of the leaves so always check for larvae and the beetles before covering.
There isn’t a practical way to cover pole beans, so picking off the beetles and dropping them into a bucket of soapy water is a way to get rid of the pest without having to resort to chemical sprays.
