GREEN BEANS AND CONTAINERS
Pound for pound green beans are a nutritious, productive, and easy-to-grow crop. Beans adapt well to containers, so you’ll enjoy their crisp snap and tender taste albeit you don’t have a plot of land.
TYPES OF GREEN BEANS
Both pole beans and bush beans grow well in containers. Pole beans are the tall, vining beans; they have support. The “beanstalk” Jack climbed up was probably a bean growing up a pole. Pole beans produce throughout the season and are easy to reap.
Bush beans don’t need support, but they take up more room and you’ve got to look inside the leafy bushes to seek out the beans.
Green beans, especially pole beans, are susceptible to a variety of plant diseases. It’s important to grow the varieties that are known to possess the smallest amount of pest problems in your area, and your local cooperative extension will have that information. you’ll find the extension office nearest you thru the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.
PLANTING GREEN BEANS
Green beans need warm soil to germinate. Sow seeds in your containers after the danger of frost is past, otherwise, your seeds will rot or be slow to germinate. In most areas, you’ll plant every fortnight through mid-summer for an endless supply of beans.
You can plant seeds of bush beans one inch deep and two or three inches apart during a two-gallon (or larger) container. you’ll sow pole bean seeds four-to-six inches apart during a long container with a trellis behind it. Or, you’ll sow three to four-pole bean seeds around each pole during a half barrel. to stop damage to seeds and plants, place the supports within the containers before you sow.
Whether you employ buckets, barrels, planters made up of scrap wood, or decorative terracotta pots, confirm your containers have drainage holes within the bottom. Cover the holes with wire or plastic mesh to stop the soil from leaking out rock bottom.
SOIL MIX FOR CONTAINER GREEN BEANS
Grow your beans during a well-drained soil mix that’s high in organic content. you’ll buy a potting mix or make your own from equal parts of compost, garden loam, and clean, coarse builder’s sand or perlite.
HOW TO look after YOUR CONTAINER READY GREEN BEANS
Spread compost between the seeds. Water when the soil feels dry at a depth of two or three inches and mulch to retain soil moisture. you would possibly be surprised at what proportion water your beans need. Bigger containers require less frequent watering. Fertilize with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half-strength, organic fish emulsion, or a slow-release fertilizer. Inspect regularly for insects and diseases.
HARVESTING GREEN BEANS
Bush beans tend to mature all directly, while pole beans give an extended yield. Harvest when the beans are just full; don’t wait too long or your beans are going to be tough.
