Green Beans: A Complete Planting Guide

The How Do Gardener ^ | March 3, 2012 | Rick Bickling

[orsonwb]

Complete planting guide for Green Beans including state specific varieties, harvest dates, nutrition facts, planting, watering, fertilizing, insect and disease information...

[georgiabelle]

My grandmother taught me to plant. She planted by the signs. She always planted white half-runner beans and the best time was to plant them on Good Friday. If not, you planted them in the arms or leg signs on the horoscope man. In fact all plants that run or climb should be planted in those signs.

Potatoes should be planted in dark nights in March.

I’ve always planted that way and it’s always came out good.

[bgill]

Green beans already planted and sprouting. Onions are up. Asparagus doing great, yum. Tomatos and peppers about ready to be transplanted in the garden.

Those planting by the moon can check dates at the farmers almanac site. I’m trying it this year just to see if it works any better. Anything would work better than last year when everything burned up with the heat. Blah, it was even too hot for the green beans.

[boxlunch]

What would be the one book you would recommend for a beginner gardener? I really want to start “prepping” but my husband hasn’t bought into the idea totally(not that he doesn’t believe there may be a need but he’s just overwhelmed at the thought), so I want to at least get some beginning gardening skills.
The two things I would be trying to do are 1)hopefully all heirloom seeds and 2) organic. I want to learn to do this self sustaining with as little outside aids as possible, and also with the lowest overhead.(I will have to buy some compost, etc to improve the soil). My garden will be very tiny, probably just scattered in several areas in our small yard. I’ve promised myself not to run up a huge bill as I want to start small and prove to myself I can do it before launching in a bigger way.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Try one or more of these. While I haven't read them, I have read at least a dozen of the other "Dummies" books, and they have all been great.

Vegetable Gardening for Dummies

Organic Gardening for Dummies

Gardening All-in-One for Dummies (7 books in one)

It is wise to start small. Once your husband sees the reduction in your grocery bill and tastes wonderful fresh and canned veggies, he will come around.

Good luck! Always feel free to ask questions on the weekly gardening thread.

[ImProudToBeAnAmerican]

Ah - Diana - cheesehead @ Jung’s - kewl!

We just ordered raspberry canes from your company - I have very fond memories of raspberry jam I made from canes in the backyard of my old home in Milwaukee. I hope they do well here in Charleston, SC.

[OB1kNOb]

I always grow “Contender” green beans every year,

That has been my staple favorite for years too. Early and prolific producer. I'm thinking of adding flat Roma beans as a second crop this year. They have a chewier, meatier texture I find a nice change from the regular.

[SelmaLee]

Thanks - I’ll keep those in mind, if my freezer space allows :)

[tdscpa]

Saving beans (seed) is very easy. I just leave some on the vines at the end of the season, let them dry, and shell them.

Tomatoes are slightly more complicated. I save the seed, juice, and some pulp in a plastic cup, add some water, cover with plastic with some air holes, let ferment for a few days (outside, out of direct sun), stirring daily, until the seeds separate from the pulp. Rinse, dry on a coffee filter or paper towel. Save in a pill bottle, test tube, or similar container. Label!

Only use “heirloom”, or other “open pollinated” varieties.

[MiddleEarth]

Thanks for the tips!