Q: I've never grown a garden before, but this year I'd like to try. It seems like beans might be a good crop to start with. What are the basics I need to know to get started?'A: Beans are some of the most popular and user-friendly plants a beginner gardener can grow! What's more, they're one of the few crops that you can actually start from seed and still have good results, so they're cost-effective too! I'm going to explain how to grow two veggie-garden classics: pole and bush beans.
Supplies
Light soil
Seeds
Poles (hence the nickname "pole beans") and twine to make tepees
Inoculant powder, plastic container, damp paper towel (optional)
1. Beans are hot-weather, warm-climate crops, so grow them in the summer. Beans need at least six hours of sunlight a day, so be sure your garden spot is in a sunny location. After the last frost, till and compost the soil. Make sure the soil is light so seedlings will eventually be able to break through ground.
2. Build and install a tepee for the pole-bean vines to climb: Simply tie the tops of three bamboo poles together, spread the poles apart and place them in the ground. You can place a horizontal pole across two tepees for stability and to provide more support for the beans to climb on.
3. This step is optional, but I recommend it for healthier crops. Inoculate the seeds in the following manner: pour them into a container that you have lined with a damp paper towel and sprinkle inoculant powder over the seeds. This will charge up the nitrogen in soil and encourage more fruit production.
4. Make hills and plant the pole beans about 1" deep and 2"-3" apart around the base of the tepee, spacing them about 6" from poles. Plant the bush beans 3' away.
5. The seeds should become seedlings in about three weeks. Once that happens, you will need to thin them. Also, you'll need to harvest your crop every couple of days or fruit production will lower.
Even if you've never grown a garden before, beans are something you really should try. They're easy and tolerant, and best of all, you'll have a great treat to eat for just the cost of a few seeds!
