Green Beans – Grow This Nutritious Treasure

Having a small garden consisting of raised beds, I find green beans, also known as string beans or snap beans, are one of the easiest vegetables to grow. There is nothing more rewarding than watching the tiny seeds you plant emerge and grow into plants; especially for a beans supplier that will produce a vegetable you put on your dinner plate.

Green Beans and Nutritional Value

I never thought much about the nutritional value of the green bean except mom would say “eat your green beans because they are good for you”. That wasn’t hard to do because green beans are a vegetable I always liked, especially if they were fresh picked and cooked immediately. Green beans contain vitamins K & C. Both of these vitamins help speed up the process of healing. Vitamin K enhances the body’s absorption of calcium which could possibly prevent bone density loss and osteoporosis. It also stimulates blood clotting so excessive bleeding does not occur.

Vitamin C boosts the immune system which is the first line of defense of the body against most diseases. Green beans also contain vitamin A which is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect against cancer, heart disease and high cholesterol. Vitamin A is known for skin aging eradication.

Beans has Manganese

Beans also contain manganese which help the body absorb vitamins B, E and the mineral magnesium. Manganese also helps alleviate mood swings and irritability caused by PMS. Additionally, green beans contain potassium which helps control heart rate and blood pressure and are a good source of folate. They are also a good source of B-1 (thiamin) and B-6 (pyridoxine) and iron.

Types of Green Beans

Pole and bush are two main types of beans that a beans exporter offers. Pole beans will grow into vines that need to grow on a pole, fence or trellis of some type and bush beans grow into bushes. Kentucky Blue, Kentucky Wonder, Blue Lake and Romano Italian are several varieties of pole beans. Blue Lake 274, Bush Kentucky Wonder, Derby, Burpee’s Tenderpod and yellow wax are varieties of bush beans. If you are short on space like me, I recommend pole beans because as long as you pick them, they will produce all season. Bush beans will have to be planted about every two to three weeks for you to have a continuous crop all season.

Plant both varieties in the spring after all danger of frost. When planting bush beans make rows about 18 inches apart and sow seeds 2 inches deep about 3 inches apart. Cover and water. As the plant matures, hoe in between the rows to control weeds being careful not to injure the shallow roots. Depending on the variety, bush beans are harvested in approximately 54 days.

Pole Beans

Pole beans are sown about 3 inches apart along a fence or trellis or set poles into ground about 28″ apart and plant 6 to 8 seeds around each pole and cover with 2 inches of fine soil. Seedlings will emerge in approximately 7 to 14 days. Pole beans are harvested in about 65 days.

Last Word

If you have more green beans than you can eat, try freezing them. It’s easy to do and you’ll have beans from your garden in the winter, even if they are frozen. If possible, pick the beans first thing in the morning, but don’t leave them on the counter for a couple of days. They will shrivel and become limp. If you can’t freeze the beans the same day, store them in the refrigerator unwashed in a plastic bag.