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BEANSBeans are a tender warm-season crop that is popular in
Kansas gardens as
either a spring crop or a fall crop. Snap or green beans are grown for
their tender immature pods. Some beans can be allowed to fill, and the bean seeds can be
harvested for later use. Some beans are "pole" types that require a large
trellis to climb. |
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Common green-podded varieties include Contender, Provider, Strike, Tendercrop, and Blue Lake types. Yellow varieties include Resistant Cherokee Wax, Goldrush, Sungold, Kinghorn Wax, Majestic, and Goldcrop. Pole-type green beans include Kentucky Wonder and McCaslan. Broad flat-podded green beans are often called Italian or romano beans, and varieties include Roma, Greencrop, and Bush Romano.
Lima beans are difficult to grow in Kansas because they require a longer period to develop and tend to drop blossoms in hot dry weather. Choose an early variety such as Baby Bush, Fordhook, Henderson, Thorogreen, or a similar early maturing variety.
Other types of beans grown primarily for their seeds
include French horticultural types, cranberry, pinto, great northern, red kidney and
similar varieties.
Beans are sensitive to cold temperatures. Soil
temperatures should be 55-60o F with danger of freezes well past before
planting. Fall beans can be planted in early August. You can have a continuous supply by
planting at intervals several weeks apart. However, beans planted to bloom in hot dry
weather frequently will be of poor quality.
Plant seeds about an inch deep in rows that are 18 inches apart. A plant every 3-5 inches is desirable, so drop seed about every 2-4 inches. Plant pole beans 6-12 inches apart.
Do not soak bean seed prior to planting. Moisten the soil to provide moisture for germination, but do not water to form a tight crust. Beans have a shallow root system and require careful cultivation, good weed control, and water in dry periods. Beans are sensitive to soil salts; avoid alkali spots or "salty" locations.
Harvest snap beans when the pod is crisp and before the seeds enlarge significantly. Do not harvest in early morning when dew is on the plants as this may spread bacterial blight. Most newer varieties of beans are developed to set a large number of pods at one time for a more concentrated harvest. Harvest lima beans and horticultural beans when the pods are fully formed and seeds have enlarged to the degree you desire.
Bacterial blight
Bean leaf beetle (black/yellow spotted beetle)
Poor stands from salt injury or soil crusting
Extension Horticulture Home Page | Horticulture Information Center
