How to grow green beans : from the variety to choose to the instructions for sowing green beans and planting. Growing green beans in pots or in the open field. Cultivation requirements and care.
The instructions in this article are valid for both open field cultivation and potted green beans . The only condition to respect for growing green beans in pots is in the choice of varieties: to grow green beans in pots, choose a dwarf variety , or place the containers next to high railings so that the plant can develop vertically along a solid support.
It is convenient to grow green beans in pots or in the home garden as only a few plants are needed to obtain abundant harvests. The green bean is a legume although many consider it a vegetable.
Dwarf green bean and climbing green bean
Dwarf green beans are well suited to growing in pots , while climbing green beans , which grow larger, require sturdy supports and for this reason, when growing in pots, it is recommended to place them along a railing high enough to contain their growth.
Dwarf green beans do not need supports
Climbing green beans need supports
Early green bean and late green bean
The growing cycle of green beans varies according to the different cultivars . It is possible to choose between dwarf varieties and climbing varieties and between these two groups, the choice is between early varieties and “late” varieties.
The growing cycle is approximately 60 to 70 days for early green beans , while it is 80 to 90 days for late green beans. You can choose to sow or plant both varieties to prolong the harvest.
Early green beans have a growing cycle of 60 – 70 days.
Late green beans have a growing cycle of 80 – 90 days.
Growing green beans, needs and care
The green bean , whether early or late, dwarf or climbing, loves soil rich in organic matter. For growing in pots, use a soil for legumes, while to grow green beans in the open field, bury compost or well-rotted manure.
When to sow green beans
The sowing period is from March to June.
How to sow green beans
Place the seeds in the soil at a depth of 3 – 5 cm. After sowing, moisten the soil.
Distance between furrows
Space the rows 50 cm apart for dwarf green beans .
Space the rows 80 cm apart for climbing green beans .
Distance between plants
Place the green bean seeds 15 – 20 cm apart on the same row. Even if cultivation starts from a seedling ( dwarf green bean or climbing green bean ), the distance between the plants must be 15 – 20 cm.
Arrangement of supports Climbing green beans
need supports, for this purpose special plastic nets are used to fix to vertical poles that are planted in the ground spaced one meter from each other. As an alternative to the poles you can use very sturdy canes.
Watering green beans
Green beans, like many legumes, need abundant irrigation. When watering, be careful that there is no stagnant water, also avoid wetting the leaves otherwise you could encourage the development of various diseases. Water the soil directly.
How to Grow Green Beans
Here is a summary of how to grow green beans :
1). Fertilize the soil by digging in well-rotted manure.
2). Make shallow furrows, about 50 cm (for dwarf green beans) or 80 cm (for climbing green beans) apart.
3). Sow by burying at a depth of 3 – 5 cm, 2 or 3 seeds at a time. Place the seeds at a distance of 15 – 20 cm in the same row. Moisten the soil.
4). The young seedlings will not be long in developing and producing their first leaves. When the seedlings have developed well, place the supports.
5). Green beans should be harvested when still very tender.
