Beans can be eaten raw as a crunchy snack or cooked as part of a meal. Given the right conditions this vegie grows quickly and needs very little attention.

PLANTING BEANS
Climbing beans grow vertically and don’t need much space. Plant seeds 25mm deep in well-drained but not sandy soil, mixing in potassium-rich organic matter.

Bush or climbing bean plants can grow from 450 to 3000mm high and 150 to 1800mm wide.

CARING FOR THE PLANTS
Water regularly in hot weather to prevent wilting, keeping the leaves free of fungal issues by avoiding overhead watering. Pick off slugs and snails regularly and mulch with straw to keep the roots cool.

WHEN TO HARVEST
Harvest the beans between eight and 12 weeks when the pods are 170mm long or even shorter so they’re young and tender. Picking beans regularly encourages new flowers and more vegies.

CHOOSE A VARIETY
Beans are a good provider of vitamins B and C and fibre. Choose the variety best suited to the area and follow the growing requirements.

Beans can grow all year in tropical to sub-tropical regions and spring to autumn in temperate to cool climates.
FOR WARM CLIMATES plant brown beauty, snake and butter beans.
FOR COOL CLIMATES go for blue lake, purple king and scarlet runner beans that are named for their red blooms.

HARVEST YOUR OWN SEEDS
Let bean pods hang on a healthy plant for as long as possible before the risk of any frosts then pick and remove the seeds from the pods.

Put them in a paper bag then label and store it in an airtight container in a cool place until planting time.