Beans are one of the first opportunistically gathered crops to be cultivated by humans, perhaps as far back as 10,000 years ago. Their deliberate cultivation indicates the boundary of man’s development from pure hunter gatherer to a more agriculturally centered lifestyle. Further, beans could be dried and saved and thus provide a food that could carry a family or community through a poor hunting, fishing or fresh food gathering period, decreasing privation and in many cases, saving lives that might otherwise be lost to famine.
In modern back yard gardens beans are the second most grown vegetable after tomatoes. And there is good reason; beans are a diverse family of vegetables as a quick look through the pages of the Vermont Bean Seed catalog will speedily reveal. There are snap beans, shelling beans, drying beans, decorative runner beans, bush beans, pole beans, broad beans and even peanuts, which are, surprise, classified as beans.
Beans should not be planted in Zone 6 until at least the second week of May when all danger of frost has passed. Give them well drained soil with a lot of compost. Fertilize them with a mixture rich in potassium and phosphorus, low in nitrogen, they are nitrogen-fixers and will take care of that requirement on their own. Plant them where they will receive full sun.
Water regularly and provide support for the vining varieties. Particularly with the vining varieties, constant picking will encourage constant flowering and therefore a higher yield.
Beans left on the vine too long may be allowed to dry and used as seed the following season, or dried and saved in bags or jars and then soaked for twenty four hours and cooked. Beans hardly ever go to waste.
Beans are an important source of protein as vegans everywhere will tell you, and are champion fiber sources as well. They are a very healthful food indeed.
Take a trip back to mankind’s agricultural roots and consider planting a bean crop in your home garden!
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