Green Beans

May 21, 2024

I decided I could no longer wait to see what might sprout from my corn.  I originally planted seven corn kernels in each of my four beds (28 total).  I had purchased the seed several years ago and never gotten it into the ground.  I do not know if the seed was still good, but the package said they should still be viable.  Even after soaking the seeds (as directed) for five hours, only nine of the kernels sprouted.  Two weeks ago, I decided to replant the corn that did not sprout (another 19 seeds) and five of the seeds have now sprouted.  Since it is getting on in the season, I decided I needed to move on and get the second stage of the three sisters in the ground, so I planted the beans.  I spaced four pole bean seeds (Kentucky Wonder var.) around each of the standing corn seedlings.  The second sister of my experiment is in the ground.  I am hoping for a great crop of green beans.

When I looked online, I found green beans are the young, unripe fruits of various cultivars of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).  The immature or young pods of the runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus), yardlong bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis), and hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus) are used in a similar way as green beans.  Green beans are known by various common names, including French beans (French, haricot vert), string beans (although most modern varieties are “stringless”), and snap beans or “snaps.”  Green Beans are a summer crop that needs warm temperatures to grow.  Maturity is typically 55 to 60 days from planting to harvest.  As the bean pods mature, they turn yellow and dry up, and the beans inside change from green to their mature color.  Green beans are distinguished from other varieties of beans in that they are harvested and consumed in their pods before the seeds have fully matured, similar to the harvest and consumption of unripe pea pods like snow peas or sugar snap peas.  Many green beans are vines that need external support of cages or poles (or the corn stalks of the Three Sisters).  Recently, the “bush bean” has been developed which does not require support and has all its pods develop at once rather than the gradual maturation of pole beans.  This makes the bush bean more practical for commercial production.

It turns out I inadvertently planted both types of green beans.  The pole beans I planted today (“Kentucky Wonder”) should coil their way up the corn stalks and provide fruit over a period of weeks as they continue to grow.  Several weeks ago, I planted a variety of bush bean (“Contender”) in one of my raised beds.  These do not need a trellis and need to be spaced farther apart.  Not knowing the difference, I had spaced them around a trellis.  It will be interesting to see the difference, and which has better production.  I replanted several other vegetables in my planters while I was planting my green beans.  An entire section of beets (Ruby Red var) grown indoors from seed had not sprouted so I replaced them with iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa).  The row of rutabagas (Brassica napus) had really taken off and needed to be thinned.  Rather than discarding the roots, I decided to try and transplant them to another area in the row.  Hopefully they are far enough along, and I got enough of the root system to allow them to survive.  We will see.    

THOUGHTS:  Even though I was able to raise over 70 plants from seed with my grow lights and warming mats, few of them survived long enough to move (or flourish) outside.  Many of those are now struggling alongside the seeds planted directly into the ground or the tomato plants I purchased from the nursery.  This tells me I need to be more selective in what I start indoors.  I have also realized I need to grow fewer varieties and more of what grows well.  It is still a “work in progress”.  Finding the right mix/diversity will be the key to sustainability.  The same could be said about human interaction.  It is our mix of diversity that creates a sustainable society and allows it to thrive.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.