Growing vegetables: Beans

Growing Vegetables: Beans

Beans are a great crop to grow if you want to make your soil more fertile. Their long tap roots help to aerate the soil and they also help to 'fix' nitrogen in the soil, making it more fertile for other crops.

Depending on your space, there are many types of legume that you can grow, from pole beans, which require support to grow upwards, to dwarf varieties. Beans can also be eaten in a variety of ways; for instance, with runner beans you eat the pod, while with borlotti beans, you can dry the beans for storage.

Borlotti Beans

Borlotti beans are a slow growing and expensive variety, but they are so worth it. To develop the distinct colouration of the beans, you need to grow them into October. They prefer a warm summer and a dry autumn, and will grow really well in the UK if they get these conditions.

They can be slow to germinate in cooler weather though, so you may be better off waiting until mid-May to sow the seeds.

The Early Stages

Beans enjoy good soil fertility too, so make sure your soil is nice and rich before you get started by adding manure or compost to your soil in the preceding autumn or spring.

When you're ready to start growing, erect a bean frame made out of bamboo canes. At the base of each pole, we tend to plant four beans, as you may only get two or three that will germinate.

They're a great space saver too, because of their upward growth and if you want to grow anything that prefers less light, they act as an excellent screen for your shade-loving plants.

When Do You Know That They're Ready?

Borlotti beans are ready when the pods have developed a mottled appearance. If you want to harvest them when they're fresh, you will want the pods to have a great depth of colour.

You're likely to harvest your first pods from the lowest part of the plant, as these will be the first flowers to set fruit. Blemished pods are a sign that they are ready to harvest, and when you crack open the pod, you should find large, speckled beans; whereas, if they are still white, then they are not ready.

Which Are Best for Drying?

The best beans for drying are the ones found in crispy pods. If you pick them on a dry day, then you'll have an easier job drying them out.

After you pick your pods, spread them out in a warm, dark place and leave them to dry out, turning the pods occasionally to ensure they dry evenly.

Once the pods have become very crispy, shell your beans and keep them in a sealed jar until you are ready to use them.