Maxibel Haricot Vert gourmet bean 1/4 lb seed bulk package

Beans are tender annuals in the Leguminosae family, which also includes garbanzos, peas, lentils, and peanuts.

• Snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) – Most often green but sometimes gold or purple, these beans are eaten fresh, steamed or pickled within their succulent pod. Snap beans have both bush and pole growth habits.
• Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) – These varieties are grown for the mature bean seed. Dry beans have both bush and pole growth habits.
• Fava beans (Vicia faba) – Plants are 2-3’ tall with an upright central stem, lovely foliage and striking white and purple flowers. They yield gigantic beans that can be eaten at the shell stage or dried for later use.

Soil and Nutrient Requirements

Beans only require average fertility and prefer pH in the 6.0 – 6.8 range. Choose well drained, warm soils and use inoculants to increase yields where natural Rhizobia populations are low. 

Seeding Depth

1-2”

Plant Spacing

For bush beans, 2-3” 

Row Spacing

For snap bush beans 18-36”, for bush dry beans 28-36”, for pole beans 6”; for pole beans use single or double rows, with 12” between, and 4’ center beds with trellis in the middle. 

When to Sow 

Days to maturity are from direct seeding. Direct seed after all danger of frost has passed. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 75-95°F. Beans are particularly sensitive to cool soils and are prone to rot if temperatures are below 55°F. White-seeded beans typically do not germinate as well as dark-seeded beans. Snap beans can be planted every 2-3 weeks for a continual harvest through mid-summer. 

Other Considerations

When possible, wait for dry conditions before handling plants. 

Pole beans require trellising for support. Plant in single or double rows, or a circle for a tripod trellis. 

Harvest 

Harvest early and often to increase yields. Remove oversized beans to maintain pod production. Dry beans are harvested once in the fall, when plants are drying down. Harvest by hand or machine, using either a combine or a stationary thresher. Avoid harvesting moldy pods whenever possible, and make sure beans are completely dry before threshing.

Storage

Dry further in cool, dry conditions prior to long-term storage. Beans are ready for storage when seed coat can not be dented by fingernail. Store beans in a cool dry place.