It’s a SNAP
A delight to eat when fresh and crisp, beans are quick and easy to grow in every climate, and the climbing varieties are perfect for small spaces, writes ELIZABETH SWANE
Beans are a most obliging crop. They’re plentiful producers that are easy to grow and quick to mature. Too much success can lead to a glut, so avoid sowing too many at once. Successive sowing at 3–4 week intervals is the best way to prolong harvests.
At almost 90 years of age, my father Ben grows superb vegetables. His garden of plenty keeps our extended family well supplied with fresh produce. When our girls were young, I encouraged Ben to grow heirloom bush beans – Dragon’s Tongue – instead of green beans. The girls delighted in hunting among the leafy bushes harvesting the purple-streaked pods, which they happily munched straight from the garden. Whether it was the crazy appearance or the mystical name, this crop was a winner, and I treasure memories of my kids discovering nature’s bounty with their grandfather.
planting & care
Green beans are warm-season, frost-tender, fast-growing annuals. They require a warm, sunny position, protected from wind, and well-drained, fertile soil enriched with plenty of organic matter. Beans prefer a near-neutral soil pH. If your soil is acidic, apply a handful of lime per square metre.
Sowing seed directly in the garden is best as bean seedlings suffer transplant shock and can fail to thrive. In warm-temperate areas, start sowing in early spring as soon as the soil warms. Bean seeds rot in cold, wet soils, so in cool areas delay sowing until late spring. In the tropics, sow during the dry season – April to July. In the subtropics, the best times for sowing are spring and early autumn.
Sow seeds knuckle deep (2–4cm) into moist soil. Bush or dwarf beans, which grow on small, leafy plants 50–60cm high, should be spaced 10–15cm apart in double rows, so the plants support each other. They take about 8–9 weeks to harvest. Climbing beans take about 12 weeks, usually outcropping bush beans. They make good use of vertical space, reaching to 2m tall, and need support from a teepee, lattice or vertical wires up a fence, or grow them up corn plants. Install supports, then sow two or three seeds at the base of each stake or wire. Water in, using liquid seaweed, then don’t water until seeds germinate.
Beans are fast-growing, shallow-rooted plants. Hill soil around the base of young plants to support the bushy growth and help prevent wind damage. Water regularly, but avoid overwatering as this encourages mildew. Mulch to retain moisture and keep roots cool in heat. Liquid-feed every two weeks with a blend of seaweed and fish emulsion, then a soluble fertiliser designed for flowers and fruit.
Pods form two weeks after flowering. Harvest while young and tender. Pick every three days to promote more flowers and prolong the harvest.
Eat as soon as possible, or store wrapped in the fridge for 2–3 days. Blanch any excess beans for 2–3 minutes in boiling water, drain and freeze.