Top Questions About Bean Plants

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Questions About Bean Plants

Asked by
hunguryfarmer on
February 19, 2011

Q. Fixing the Garden for ALL Types,

Got red clay with a fair amount of topsoil, it is located where pines used to be . This past year we planted some Cancun lilies and they turned out excellent, probably got 300 bulbs from 6 original. My question is , do you think this spot will make for a good vegetable (beans, greens, beets, tomatoes) garden?

Answered by
Heather on
February 19, 2011
Certified Expert
A.

It sounds like the soil is fertile given how the lilies did, so it should be a good place to grow plants. As for the vegetables, as long as the location gets at least 5 - 6 hours of sun, they should do fine.

Regardless of how well the soil is doing right now, you should make it a habit to amend your soil a bit every year with organic material to help replenish nutrients that any plants grown there will use up.

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Asked by
JimB on
March 8, 2011

Q. Planting Beans

When planting beans does it make any difference if the eye is facing up or down?

Answered by
Heather on
March 10, 2011
Certified Expert
A.

Makes no difference at all. Plants are designed with the ability to sense gravity and most seeds will send the roots down and the shoots up, no matter the way they are planted. Even the plants (and beans are not one of them) that do better when planted a certain direction will figure it out. It just takes them a little longer to break the surface than if they were planted the right direction.

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Asked by
Anonymous on
March 15, 2011

Q. Bean Mineral or Nutrients

What minerals and nutrients found in the soil are best for bean plants? Can you add nutrients to the soil so the plants grow better? If so, what kind of nutrients?

Answered by
Nikki on
March 15, 2011
Certified Expert
A.

Beans do best in soil that has been inoculated. This article will explain more on that:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/beans/soil-inoculants.htm

Beyond that, I would recommend a balanced fertilizer for beans.

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Asked by
Anonymous on
March 15, 2011

Q. Dry Beans

Can the navy beans you get in a plastic bag at the grocery store be planted in the garden? If so, will they produce?

Answered by
Nikki on
March 16, 2011
Certified Expert
A.

It is possible to grow bagged, store-bought dry beans (not those purchased from cans). Soak them in water for a few hours and then sprout them in a jar with a wet paper towel, before planting them.

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Asked by
Anonymous on
March 22, 2011

Q. Not Rotating Beans

If beans are going to be planted in the same spot all the time, what should be added to the soil to improve it? Also, we had flourishing bean plants, but few beans, and the beans we had were soft and lacked the seeds inside the seed pods. Do you know how to fix this?

Answered by
Nikki on
March 22, 2011
Certified Expert
A.

Crop rotation is actually pretty important, and without it, you're bound to have problems like the ones you've already encountered. I would recommend rotating your beans in order to give them a healthy chance. You may also want to consider using inoculant. These articles will better explain both crop rotation and inoculants: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/rotating-vegetables.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/beans/soil-inoculants.htm

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Asked by
Anonymous on
April 4, 2011

Q. Harvesting Shell Beans

Last time I planted shell beans, I dried them in the dehydrator for 12 hours and then jarred them and they still molded. I just saw an article about when to harvest, and they said pick when pod is full and hard and then store for two months.

Answered by
Nikki on
April 5, 2011
Certified Expert
A.

Letting them dry on the plant will help with storage time. When you store them, also try putting them in a breathable container so that any leftover moisture can be let out from the beans.

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Asked by
Anonymous on
April 18, 2011

Q. Beans – Seeds ‘Disappearing’ Before Germination

We have grown beans in previous years and have never encountered the problems which we have had this year. We have set bean seeds in the usual way but have not had many germinating. When we check the soil after several weeks, there is no sign of any seed. We thought at first it may have been eaten, but the soil is not disturbed and there is no trace of either the beans or any ‘livestock’. Dirt is not especially wet or dry – can think of no reason – Help!

Answered by
Nikki on
April 18, 2011
Certified Expert
A.

Even though the soil is not disturbed, I still suspect that some small animal is taking it, possibly from below. Possibilities include voles or chipmunks. These articles will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/chipmunk-control-eliminating-chipmunks-from-your-garden.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/animals/vole-control.htm

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