BEANS – BUSH
Direct sow planting, warm season crop
Cultivars
Provider
Carsen Yellow
Black Turtle – grows as a bush bean variety but harvest as a dried bean (see below)
Cannellini Dry – grows as a bush bean variety but harvest as a pole bean (see below)
Sowing the seeds
Sow seeds into warm soil (1 to 2 weeks after the last frost) at 1 to 1 ½ inches deep. Distance between seeds, 2 to 4 inches. Distance between rows 2 to 3 feet.
Harvesting
Pods should be firm and crisp at harvest; the seeds inside should be undeveloped or very small. Hold stem with one hand and pod with the other to avoid pulling off branches that will produce later pickings. Pick all pods to keep plants productive. (http://garden.org/plantguide/index.php?q=show&id=2107)
BEANS – POLE
Direct sow planting, warm season crop
Cultivars
Scarlett Runner
Lima
Windsor Broad
French – harvest like a bush bean
Sowing the seeds
Sow seeds into warm soil (1 to 2 weeks after the last frost) at 1 to 1 ½ inches deep. Distance between seeds, 2 to 4 inches. Distance between rows 2 to 3 feet. Set up trellis or teepee system when sowing the seeds.
Harvesting
Let the seeds develop in the pods to the point where the pod is lumpy but are green and soft and have not dried out. Pick the pods and shell them to use the beans.
BEANS – DRIED
Direct sow planting, warm season crop
Cultivars
Dry Cannellini
Sowing the seeds
Sow seeds into warm soil (1 to 2 weeks after the last frost) at 1 to 1 ½ inches deep. Distance between seeds, 2 to 4 inches. Distance between rows 2 to 3 feet. Set up trellis or teepee system when sowing the seeds.
Harvesting
Let seeds develop fully and wait until the pods completely dry out. Pick beans, shell them and dry on a cookie sheet for one to two days and store in an airtight container.
