Green Beans Offer Choice: Speed, Volume

Question: How do I go about growing green beans?

M.C., Garden Grove.

Answer: Beans can be grown in average soil anywhere in Southern California and are a favorite crop of gardeners.

There are two types of green beans: bush, which produce sooner but require more space, and pole beans, which require more fertilization but produce several pounds of beans per plant.

Suggested bush types include ‘Tendercrop,’ ‘Roman,’ ‘Harvester,’ ‘Contender,’ ‘Goldencrop Wax’ and ‘Resistant Cherokee Wax.’

Pole bean types good for this area are ‘Kentucky Wonder,’ ‘Romano’ (Italian type) and ‘Scarlet Runner’ (attractive scarlet flowers and tasty beans when picked young).

Beans can be planted this month or whenever the temperature is consistently around 75 degrees.

The day before planting, soak the beans in water overnight. Also create a 1-inch furrow in the soil where you intend to plant and fill the furrow with water. On planting day, place bush bean seeds 2 inches apart in rows that are 2 feet apart. Cover with loose soil. Lightly tamp down.

Bush beans produce the bulk of their crop for a two-week period, so plant at two-week intervals to ensure continuous production. For pole beans, create a bean tepee out of 6- to 8-foot bamboo poles for the beans to grow on. Prepare a circular furrow around the outside of the poles and plant six to eight seeds at the base of each pole.

When seedlings have a second pair of true leaves, thin to three plants per pole. The bean plants will wrap around the poles to support themselves.

When beans bloom, fertilize with a vegetable fertilizer. After beans appear, pick frequently so that the plants continue to bear all summer. Beans need to be harvested every two to three days. Be sure to lift up the bean plants and look under the foliage to pick every ripe bean.

Have a problem in your yard? University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners are here to help. These trained and certified horticultural volunteers are dedicated to extending research-based, scientifically accurate information to the public about home horticulture and pest management. They are involved with a variety of outreach programs, including the UCCE Master Garden hotline, which provides answers to specific questions. You can reach the hotline at (714) 708-1646 or send e-mail to ucmastergardeners@yahoo.com. Calls and e-mail are picked up daily and generally returned within two to three days.