Growing Beans - dwarf, also French beans, Bush beans
Phaseolus vulgaris : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | P | P | P |
(Best months for growing Beans - dwarf in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)
- P = Sow seed
- Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 16°C and 30°C.
- Space plants: 5 - 15 cm apart
- Harvest in 7-10 weeks. Pick often to encourage more flower production.
- Compatible with (can grow beside): Sweetcorn, spinach, lettuce, summer savory, dill, carrots, brassicas, beets, radish, strawberry and cucumbers, tagates minuta (wild marigold)
- Avoid growing close to: Alliums (Chives, leek, garlic, onions) Sunflower
Traditionally sown in rows, dwarf beans also grow well 'broadcast' or scattered over an area. Just scatter the seed (don't worry about the odd ones which are close up). Cover with soil, potting mix, or compost and firm down with the back of a spade or rake. Grown this way the beans will mostly shade out competing weeds and 'self-mulch'.
Keep watered and watch for shield bugs and green caterpillars Pick the beans regularly to encourage new flowers. Flowering will slow right down if you let the beans get too large (hard and stringy) on the plants. For a continuous crop, plant more seed as soon as the previous planting starts to flower. Protect against snails and slugs - they will completely destroy newly sprouted beans, and will eat the leaves off grown plants.
Culinary hints - cooking and eating Beans - dwarf
Can be used in salads when young, blanched and cooled.
Will freeze well.
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