Latin name: Phaseolus vulgaris
๐ฑ Days to Sprout: 10-14
๐ Plant food: after roots appear
โ๏ธ Thin to: 2 plants per yCube
๐ Days to Maturity: 50-75
๐ก Light Zone: Maximum
๐ Plant Size: 2 ft
๐ Care Level: Advanced
Origin
Beans originated in Peru and were spread throughout the Americas by migrating Native tribes. Beans were a staple in Native diets and were often grown alongside corn and squash with the cornstalks providing support to the climbing bean plants - known as Three Sisters planting. Christopher Columbus brought these New World beans back to Europe in the late 1400s. While early Green Beans were tough and stringy, plant breeders have made significant improvements to green bean flavor, texture, and growing properties since the late 1800s.
Qualities
Green Beans have wide, heart-shaped green leaves and produce white, pink, and purple flowers. As a superfood legume, they contain many essential vitamins including A, C, K, B6, and B9 (folate). Just one cup of raw Green Beans provides almost 10% of the daily recommended amount of folate. Green Beans are an excellent source of fiber, calcium, silicon, iron, manganese, and potassium. Legumes are rich in antioxidants including flavonols, quercetin, and kaempferol which actively reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Use
Enjoy Green Beans freshly picked or lightly steamed for optimal nutrition. Theyโre also tasty sautรฉed, boiled, baked, pickled, grilled, and even fried.
Care & Harvest
๐ฑ Germination: Bean seeds require a well-drained environment, so we recommend germinating them off of your Gardyn. To do so, dunk the yCube in water up to the top of the plastic and soak for 5 minutes. Then, place it in a Nursery without adding any more water, and add the lid. If you already have other yCubes or Microgreens germinating with water in your Nursery, keep your soaked Beans yCube separate.
๐กTemperature: Prefer warmer temperatures (70-85ยฐF).
๐ Pollination: White, pink, and purple flowers develop 4-6 weeks after sprouting. When they appear, help the plant with pollination by gently shaking the plant, or gently disturbing the inside of blossoms with your finger or a small brush.
๐ซถ Support: Though this is a compact plant, we recommend using our Trellis and Plant Belts to direct the vine up your Gardynโs columns and support the plant's fruit.
โ๏ธ Pruning: These beans require minimal pruning. Snip away yellow or brown leaves if they appear. Check the roots monthly and trim any that are brown or extending past the yPod.
๐ Plant Health: Aphids and mites are a common pest, but you can use our prevention and treatment tricks to keep pests at bay!
๐ซ Harvest: To harvest Green Beans, wait until they produce fleshy round pods that are about 5 inches long and generally as thick as a pencil. Snip the pods at the stem before they are fully mature and while they are still tender, usually 1-2 weeks after flowering. This variety of bush bean produces most of its fruit at once, but the plant will keep producing if harvested regularly.
Harvest to Plate Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh Green Beans, stems removed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet.
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute, stirring frequently..
- Add the green beans, sea salt, and black pepper, and toss to coat green beans evenly. Continue to saute for approx. 5-6 minutes.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle grated parmesan. Toss once again until parmesan is melted.
Our Plant Health & Nutrition Team thoroughly tests each variety we offer to bring you the most flavorful and high-quality plants. We regularly rotate our plant portfolio, so please note, availability varies.