I'm really eager to hear about everyone's experiences with growing green beans! What types do you prefer, bush or pole, and what are your reasons for that choice? How close do you plant them, and how often do you water or fertilize? Also, how's your harvest looking and how frequently are you gathering them? Lastly, I'd love some tips on how to store them until I have enough for canning!
3 Answers
I experiment with different varieties each season. This year it's scarlet runner beans, which are pretty tasty! I try to have a mix of bush and pole beans to maximize my space, making sure to add a barrier against rabbits that love those seedlings. Also, I wait until the soil warms up in spring to plant; otherwise, the seeds can rot. Just a tip!
Pole beans can be a blast to grow! They can even thrive on pumpkin arches, which makes for a fun garden setup. This year I’m mixing things up a bit by planting mini pumpkins alongside the beans for a staggered harvest, and so far it’s been a fun project.
I stick with bush beans—they like being planted closely together, around 6 inches apart. I’ve also had success with pole beans when I use a trellis, but I love the Chinese yardlong noodle beans for their longer harvest period and unique flavor. For storage, I keep my beans in the fridge and also freeze them for later. Easiest thing is to direct-seed them since they’re super easy to grow, and if they don’t make it, just replant!