Bean
Vegetable
Direct sow before the first frost date in mild winter areas. Direct sow late winter to mid-spring in other areas (tall, soft plants won’t withstand winter well). Optimal soil temperature: 10-21°C (50-70°F). Enrich the soil with compost prior to planting.
Bean
How to Grow:
Vegetable
Timing:
Direct sow before the first frost date in mild winter areas. Direct sow late winter to mid-spring in other areas (tall, soft plants won’t withstand winter well). Optimal soil temperature: 10-21°C (50-70°F). Enrich the soil with compost prior to planting.
Starting:
Use a broad bean or combination inoculant to provide a source of nitrogen. Sow seed 5cm (2″) deep, 15cm (6″) apart in double rows. Each set of double rows should be 1m (3’) apart. Germination takes 10-14 days, depending on conditions.
Growing:
Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5.Keep overwintered plants weeded. Provide stakes or strings between rows to stop plants from falling over. GerminationDays to maturity: From direct sowing.In optimum conditions at least 75% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 2-3 years. Per 100′ row: 450 seeds, per acre: 98M seeds.
Harvest:
Pick when the pods appear plump and begin to droop from the weight of the seeds. Shell (like peas) and cook or use in soup. For dried beans, wait until the pods start to shrivel.
