How to Grow and Harvest Shell Beans in Your Garden
Shell beans are a type of legume that have edible seeds inside a pod. Unlike green beans, which are harvested when the pods are young and tender, shell beans are harvested when the pods are mature and dry. Shell beans are also known as shelling beans, dry beans, or soup beans.
Shell beans are easy to grow and can provide a high yield of nutritious and delicious seeds that can be stored for a long time. Shell beans come in many varieties, such as kidney, pinto, navy, black, lima, and cranberry beans. In this article, we will show you how to grow and harvest shell beans in your garden.
Step 1: Choose a suitable variety of shell beans
The first step to growing shell beans is to choose a variety that suits your climate and taste preferences. Shell beans are divided into two main types: bush beans and pole beans. Bush beans grow in compact plants that do not need support, while pole beans grow in vines that need to be trained on a trellis or stake. Bush beans tend to mature faster and produce more uniform pods, while pole beans tend to produce more pods over a longer period of time.
Some popular varieties of shell beans include:
- Kidney beans: These are large, red, kidney-shaped beans that have a creamy texture and a mild flavor. They are great for making chili, salads, soups, and stews.
- Pinto beans: These are medium-sized, speckled, oval-shaped beans that have a rich flavor and a smooth texture. They are commonly used for making refried beans, burritos, dips, and casseroles.
- Navy beans: These are small, white, oval-shaped beans that have a mild flavor and a firm texture. They are often used for making baked beans, soups, and salads.
- Black beans: These are small, black, round-shaped beans that have a earthy flavor and a soft texture. They are popular for making black bean burgers, tacos, salads, and soups.
- Lima beans: These are large, green or white, flat-shaped beans that have a buttery flavor and a starchy texture. They are also known as butter beans or sieva beans. They are delicious when cooked with bacon, ham, or herbs.
- Cranberry beans: These are medium-sized, pink or red speckled, oval-shaped beans that have a nutty flavor and a creamy texture. They are also known as borlotti beans or Roman beans. They are ideal for making salads, soups, and pasta dishes.
Step 2: Prepare the soil and sow the seeds
The next step to growing shell beans is to prepare the soil and sow the seeds. Shell beans prefer well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. You can improve the soil quality by adding organic matter such as compost or manure before planting. Shell beans also benefit from inoculating the seeds with rhizobium bacteria, which help them fix nitrogen from the air and improve their growth and yield.
You can sow the seeds directly in the garden after the last frost date in your area. For bush beans, sow the seeds about 1 inch deep and 2 to 4 inches apart in rows that are 18 to 24 inches apart. For pole beans,
sow the seeds about 1 inch deep and 4 to 6 inches apart in rows that are 30 to 36 inches apart. You can also plant them in hills of 4 to 6 seeds around each pole or stake.
Step 3: Care for the plants
The third step to growing shell beans is to care for the plants. Shell beans need regular watering,
especially during flowering and pod development. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. You can mulch
the soil with straw or grass clippings to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Shell beans do not need much fertilization if you inoculated the seeds and added organic matter to
the soil. However, you can apply a balanced fertilizer once or twice during the growing season if
the plants look pale or weak.
Shell beans also need