Beans are an excellent plant for novice gardeners to cultivate because they are simple to sow, tend, and harvest. The green bean plant, or Phaseolus vulgaris, is also known as the common bean plant. It has several different types of edible pods, such as snap beans and shell beans, and it also contains dry beans, which have had the insides of their inedible pods removed before they are cooked and consumed.
Most home gardeners will be cultivating beans of the pod/snap variety, including low-growing bush beans and pole bean varieties that develop long vines. While purple, red, yellow, and striped beans are also available, green beans make up the majority of pod/snap bean variations. Common beans have a round or flattened appearance and are several inches long.
Vegetables that grow quickly are annual bean plants, best planted in the spring. After planting, the flowers take around two months to appear. The length of harvest varies significantly based on the variety of beans. Be aware that uncooked or undercooked beans' seeds may poison humans and animals.
Season Of Growth
As of its extreme adaptability, beans grow well in both partial shade and the sun. Select an area that gets some light from the sun. Pole beans require less room to grow as they get taller. Conversely, bush beans need more room to flourish. If you plant them too late, they will not have enough time to mature and prepare for harvest.
Preparing The Soil
Beans thrive in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. For ideal bean soil, combine potting soil and garden compost. To break up any structures that resemble clay, thoroughly till the soil. In short, beans are plants that fix nitrogen in the soil by drawing it from the atmosphere. Simply incorporate compost into your soil and proceed to the following planting stage.
Planting The Seeds
It is best to plant the bean seeds straight into the earth. This plant's roots are extremely delicate and are prone to harm while transplanting. Thus, it should not be grown indoors at first.
Pollination
The majority of bean cultivars self-pollinate. The flowers are called "perfect flowers" since they have both male and female components. Though bees and other pollinators can help, soft breezes are typically the only reliable source of pollination within flowers. However, unlike some species, it is unnecessary to grow several plants or various kinds to guarantee cross-pollination.
Water
Common beans require one inch of water every week. For extra watering, use a drip irrigation system to prevent soil from splashing onto the leaves, which can result in soil-borne illnesses. Insert your finger approximately an inch into the dirt close to the plant's base to see if the plants require watering.
If the soil is dry, it's time to water. Underwater plants will not produce flowers. Because of their thin roots, beans benefit from mulching, which helps retain soil moisture and keep plants cool.
How And When To Gather Beans?
There are three steps to bean picking, which correlate to the three varieties of crops used. Know the best time to harvest each variety of bean:
- Go ahead. The seeds have not yet started to swell, and the pods remain fragile.
- The seeds have swollen, and the pod has changed colour but hasn't dried yet.
- The hard seeds are enclosed in the brittle, desiccated pods.
Beans should be picked well before the first frost. Either swathing or a combine harvester is used to gather them. Growing beans can be a worthwhile endeavour for any farmer wishing to diversify their crops and benefit from this versatile plant, provided they put in a little work and know-how.
Taking Out Weeds
In a dense crop stand, weeds are less likely to appear in a row. Mulch the soil down to a depth of 2-4 inches (8–10 cm) to further limit the chance of weed growth. Regular shallow cultivation might help eradicate weeds if they continue to grow. Avoiding deep cultivation is crucial because beans have lateral roots that are closer to the soil's surface and taproots that penetrate deeply into the ground.