How to Grow Beans

Learning how to grow beans is quite straightforward and beans usually come out well as long as you have a warm summer.Beans come in several varieties but most fit into 1 of 3 categories � snap beans, dry beans and shell beans. Different bean varieties share the same growing conditions and instructions.

How to Plant Beans

You need to find a sunny area with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. If you live somewhere very hot, choose a spot with partial afternoon shade. Plant your seeds after the last frost and when the soil temperature is 55�F or warmer. You need to fertilize the growing area before planting. Beans get nitrogen from the air so the soil will only need to contain the other ingredients necessary for healthy bean growth, which are potassium and phosphorus. Hoe the soil before planting so it is loose and well-aired.

Sow the seeds between 2 and 3 inches apart and 1 inch deep. There should be a space of 18 to 25 inches between each row. It is best to use fungicide-treated seeds if you can get them, to protect the seedling when it is young. If you are growing pole beans, you can position the supports at this point. The roots of the growing plants are too small at this stage to accidentally damage. When you have planted the beans, water them. Someone with experience in how to grow beans would advise you to plant them just before a heavy rainfall.

How to Tend Beans

When you can see the seedlings, thin them to at least 6 inches apart. If you are growing them in a humid climate, allow more space between them to ensure good air circulation around the plants. The beans should be watered once a week in dry weather. Keep an eye on the plants, especially when they are blooming. If the leaves are limp, water the plant.

Weed the area around the bean plants regularly during the growing season and hoe the surrounding soil. Don't dig too deeply with the hoe, so as not to damage the bean roots. When the plants flower, fertilize them again.

How to Harvest Beans

These tips on how to grow beans include how to harvest them. Harvest time is when the pods are fully grown, crisp and firm. You need to pick the beans when the plants are dry, else you might spread bean bacterial blight. Pick the ripe beans and let the others mature for longer. The bean plant will keep producing more flowers and beans if you pick the pods before the seeds mature.

How to Store Beans

You can boil beans in salted water, using 1 tablespoon of salt in every 6 liters of water, until they go dark green. Drain them and put them in airtight bags. Place the bags in the freezer and you can thaw them out whenever you need them. Beans are great in a winter stew on a cold evening. Knowing how to grow beans the right way should mean a great harvest. With the right conditions, beans are a simple vegetable to grow

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