How to Grow Excellent Green Beans: Growing Tips

Beans

Green beans are an annual herbaceous plant. This legume not only produces a large quantity of nutritious fruits but also enriches the soil with nitrogen, maintaining its fertility. Growing and caring for asparagus beans won't take much time if you plant them correctly and determine the most suitable cultivation method for your agroclimatic zone.

Description and characteristics of asparagus beans

The species owes its name to the asparagus-like flavor of its fruits. In appearance, the variety is very similar to the common bean, as can be seen in the photo. However, unlike the common bean, it has very soft pods, without membranes or coarse fibers. During the fruiting phase, the bushes of the different species are distinguished by the shape of their pods: those of the asparagus bean are narrowed and oblong.

Main characteristics of the culture:

plant structure – bush, semi-climbing, climbing;
fruit colors: green, yellow, purple and red;
the shape of the pods is narrow, quite elongated;
undemanding to lighting - many varieties grow well in partial shade and on the north side;
inflorescences - due to the decorative nature of the flowers, some hybrids, especially climbing ones, are used for landscaping the garden.

Growing regions

References to the cultivation of asparagus beans in Europe date back to the 16th century. Before that, they were grown in South and Central America. The indigenous populations of these regions believed the beans had healing properties. Decoctions containing them were widely used in cosmetology.

In Russia, asparagus beans were used to decorate gazebos, front gardens, and flowerbeds, considered a purely ornamental crop. Eating asparagus beans as a food crop only began in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, the crop is grown almost everywhere, using various cultivation methods: in southern regions, they are grown without seedlings, while in cooler climates, they are grown using transplants.

Sowing in open ground

Before beginning the sowing campaign, it's necessary to first determine the most suitable location and prepare the soil. Furthermore, the seeds should be soaked in advance to ensure optimal germination.

Site requirements

Sunny beds are ideal for this heat-loving crop, but asparagus beans can also be grown in areas with partial shade. They thrive in neutral black soils. Soil preparation should begin in the fall by adding organic matter during tillage. If you follow these simple guidelines, growing asparagus beans is a simple process, and your plantings will reward you with an abundance of tasty and nutritious beans.

Important!

When using organic fertilizers, it's best to choose compost or humus. Fresh manure should not be used due to its high nitrogen concentration and the presence of pathogens.

Combining green beans with other plants

The best predecessors for beans are potatoes, eggplants, cabbage, and carrots. It's not recommended to plant beans in areas where onions, garlic, and peas were grown last season. If beans were grown in the area, they should be allowed to rest for 3-4 years before being replanted.

Bushy varieties are often planted between rows of potatoes and cabbage. Climbing varieties require support.

Preparing seeds for planting in open ground

Dry seeds can be sown in the beds. However, to ensure more uniform germination, they should be prepared in advance. Soaking the seeds in a potassium permanganate solution helps kill any potential pathogens. Furthermore, leaving the seeds in the liquid will cause any unsuitable seeds to float. Seeds suitable for sowing are rinsed under running water and dried with paper towels.

You can additionally germinate the seeds:

Take a dessert plate and cover it with a layer of gauze.
The seed material is distributed over it and covered with a layer of fabric.
The contents of the container are filled with a solution of growth stimulator and water.
After 24 hours, they begin sowing.

How to sow seeds in open ground

When preparing the garden soil in the fall, after enriching it with nutrients, it's enough to loosen it and begin sowing. The optimal time is when the soil at a depth of 10 cm has warmed to 12-15°C.

The main stages of sowing work:

Ditches are made on the site and watered with clean water.
Lay out 2 beans at a distance of 20 cm.
The distance between the furrows is left within 40 cm.
The seeds are planted depending on the soil type: for light soils the planting depth is 5 cm, for loamy soils – 3-4 cm.
The soil is lightly compacted by hand and watered, which will prevent the formation of air pockets near the beans.

In cooler areas where there is a risk of recurrent frosts, it is recommended to build a frame over the crops and stretch a film over them.

Seedling propagation method

To obtain a good harvest within the appropriate timeframe, in the northern regions, preference is given to growing from seeds through seedlings.

Selecting a container

You can sow the seeds in seedling containers, but transplanting them into the garden can damage the fragile roots. Less experienced gardeners are better off using peat pots. This way, planting the asparagus bean seedlings in open ground will be painless for the plants. They will root quickly, easily penetrating the biodegradable lining of the containers.

Timing and technology of sowing

Caring for seedlings

Once the sprouts emerge, establish an optimal watering regime to keep the soil consistently moist. However, avoid allowing waterlogging to occur. To prevent crusting, loosen the soil after the top layer dries.

If sown in fertile soil, the seedlings grow well without additional fertilizer. A week before planting in the garden, harden off the seedlings by placing them outside for a day. Only strong seedlings are used as planting material.

Growing asparagus beans in a greenhouse

In risky farming zones, growing asparagus beans indoors rather than outdoors is often preferred. This allows for strong plants and an early harvest. The climbing variety is more popular due to its space-saving properties.

The best time to sow beans in a greenhouse is in late winter to early spring. When sowing in February, supplemental lighting should be provided to ensure daylight hours are no shorter than 12 hours. Wire strings are strung along the future plantings to create a trellis. Then, you can begin filling the shelves with soil (a 20 cm layer). The sowing pattern and seeding depth are the same as for garden beds: 20 x 50 cm and 3-4 cm, respectively.

Caring for the crop

Green beans can be grown in a variety of ways, even indoors. However, to achieve the yields claimed by the growers, comprehensive care is required. Key measures include regular watering, supplemental feeding, loosening, weeding, and pest inspection.

Watering

Beans are a moisture-loving crop. They should be watered generously but moderately. Excessive moisture can lead to the development of fungal diseases. Water the beans at the roots in the morning or evening.

Soil treatment

The spaces between rows and around the tree trunks should be kept clean. Weeding is often combined with loosening the soil after watering or rainfall. Better aeration can lead to a larger harvest. To reduce moisture evaporation and extend the intervals between loosening and weeding, mulch the soil under the plantings. Peat or sawdust are good mulching materials.

Fertilizer and feeding

When planting in fertile soil, one application is sufficient. This is done during the fruit set stage. The optimal nutrient composition is phosphorus and potassium. To obtain this, you can mix superphosphate and potassium sulfate, then dissolve the powdered mixture in water.

We fight diseases and pests

Difficulties in growing beans often arise from violations of organizational, management, and agricultural practices. In the first case, if the legume is planted in the same plot as last year without following crop rotation, it may become infected with specialized diseases and pests, a stock of which has accumulated since the previous season.

Common diseases include powdery mildew and gray mold, while pests include aphids and seedling flies. These diseases are often caused by excess moisture. Watering should be adjusted accordingly. Seedling flies often infest seeds, which must be disinfected with a potassium permanganate solution before sowing.

Important!

The most effective means of protection are chemical insecticides and fungicides. However, if you want to grow organic produce, you can use folk remedies if necessary.

Harvesting and proper storage of crops

Green beans produce a harvest in waves: the pods can be picked right up until the first frost. The key is to catch the optimal stage of milky ripeness, when the pods and beans are soft and juicy. You can check if this is the right time to harvest by piercing the pod. The beans should be tender.

Freshly harvested vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator, but only for a short time. It's best to freeze them immediately or use them as directed. Only those portions that you plan to use for cooking in the near future should be refrigerated.