Peulvruchten
How to sow and grow bush beans
This variety produces lots of tender green beans. They grow in bunches of 4 to 5 beans. Harvest when they're about 10 cm long: that's when they're tastiest.
What are bush beans?
Bush beans are the low, bushy version of the climbing pole beans that grow much taller. Like all beans, they are members of the legume family.
Originally, the green bean comes from South America. Today, China is the world's largest producer of green beans.
Green beans are also known as string beans or French beans. Besides the green green bean, there are many other varieties -like our pale yellow butter beans and the long thin Haricots Verts.
Originally, the green bean comes from South America. Today, China is the world's largest producer of green beans.
Green beans are also known as string beans or French beans. Besides the green green bean, there are many other varieties -like our pale yellow butter beans and the long thin Haricots Verts.
Bush bean
This tasty bush bean produces lots of tender green beans in bunches of 4 to 5. Harvest them around 10 cm long: that's when they're tastiest.
Species name: Record
Family: legume
Plants per square patch: 9
Height: 40-50 cm and up
Sowing time: May and June
Sowing depth: 2 to 3 cm
Germination time: 21°C in 7-10 days
Time to harvest: after 8-9 weeks
Sunlight: full sun
Want to buy bush been seeds? We sell seed bags separately, or, you can get them as part of a seed pack:
Hoe zaai en kweek je stamboontjes?
Deze stamboontjes staan in de gratis Makkelijke Moestuin app. Gebruik je die, dan begeleidt hij je van zaadje tot oogst.
Elke groente doorloopt namelijk een aantal stadia - wij noemen die levels.
De app vertelt je precies wat je in elk level moet doen en laat je regelmatig checken of je plantjes al ver genoeg zijn om over te gaan naar het volgende level.
Hoe je ze succesvol kweekt, hoef je dus vooraf niet te weten. Maar wil je alvast wat lezen, dan kan dat hieronder.
What do you need to grow your own bush beans?
Just this:
- a 30x30 cm patch with airy, nutrient-rich soil mix
- bush bean seeds
- a spot with at least 4 hours of sunlight a day
Growing your own bush beans is easy with the MM-Mix. If you grow in low-quality (potting) soil, disappointment is pretty much guaranteed. So don't skimp on soil mix: go for the best.
Level 1: Pre-sow bush beans
Level 1: Stambonen voorkiemen
Beans need a lot of heat to germinate. If it's just a little cold or rainy outside, the seedlings won't sprout or they'll be weak when they do.
So, pre-sow your beans indoors in a pot with equal parts MM-Mix and vermiculite.
So, pre-sow your beans indoors in a pot with equal parts MM-Mix and vermiculite.
Level 2 and 3: Sowing bush beans
Level 2 en 3: Stamboontjes zaaien
As soon as the seedlings are visible, transfer them to a square patch in your vegetable garden box or MM-Mini.
Here's how:
Here's how:
- make 9 holes in your patch: 3 to 5 cm deep
- scoop the seedlings out of the pot with a spoon
- plant 1 in each hole
- carefully cover the holes with soil mix
Now you have a bean patch 🙂
In a week or so, you should see something come up. It depends a bit on the weather.
In a week or so, you should see something come up. It depends a bit on the weather.
If it's still cold out, you can cover the patch with a crop cover like the MM-Muts or a few plastic containers. These help keep in the heat and keep out birds and snails.
Level 4: Caring for your plants
Level 4: Verzorging van je stamboon plantjes
After a week or 2, your seedlings have already become small plants.
They'll grow quite fast in the coming weeks. You don't have to do much about that, nice and easy 🙂
They'll grow quite fast in the coming weeks. You don't have to do much about that, nice and easy 🙂
Level 5: Give your plants support with a rack
Level 5: Geef je plantjes wat steun met een rekje
Give your plants some support with a mini trellis. You can make one easily by bending garden wire fencing into a U-shape and placing it on top of the bean patch.
If you use a MM-mini this is not absolutely necessairy: then it's okay if the plants spill over the sides.
In a few weeks, the first flowers and pods appear. Then it's time for the next level.
If you use a MM-mini this is not absolutely necessairy: then it's okay if the plants spill over the sides.
In a few weeks, the first flowers and pods appear. Then it's time for the next level.
Level 6: Blooming bush beans
Level 6 bloeiende stambonen
Now you'll see beautiful white butterfly flowers. That's where the beans will grow from.
Sometimes you'll already see your first bean now.
Sometimes you'll already see your first bean now.
Level 7: Oogst de eerste stambonen
About 8 to 9 weeks after sowing, you can harvest the first beans.
By harvesting early, the plants produce more flowers. More flowers mean more beans.
It's normal for the leaves to turn a little yellow and get uglier, especially around the bottom of the plant.
By harvesting early, the plants produce more flowers. More flowers mean more beans.
It's normal for the leaves to turn a little yellow and get uglier, especially around the bottom of the plant.
How do you use bush beans?
Cut the beans from the plants when they are about 10 cm long. That's when they are really the tastiest. By cutting, you don't damage the plants.
The most popular way to eat green beans: boil the beans briefly and eat them warm as a side dish. Or you can cool them quickly and add them to cold salads.
Bush beans are great in stir fries too. You can find recipes for bush bean quiches or bread if you feel creative 😉
The most popular way to eat green beans: boil the beans briefly and eat them warm as a side dish. Or you can cool them quickly and add them to cold salads.
Bush beans are great in stir fries too. You can find recipes for bush bean quiches or bread if you feel creative 😉
Bush beans: full of antioxidants and fiber
These green beans don't have a lot of vitamins and minerals, but do contain lots of carotenes like lutein, beta-carotene, violaxanthin, and neoxanthin.
They work as antioxidants to help prevent inflammation and diseases like type 2 diabetes. Flavonoids in these beans - like quercetin, kaempferol, and catechins - enhance their antioxidant properties even more.
Bush beans are high in fiber, which is good for our gut bacteria. And calories? Hardly any 🙂
They work as antioxidants to help prevent inflammation and diseases like type 2 diabetes. Flavonoids in these beans - like quercetin, kaempferol, and catechins - enhance their antioxidant properties even more.
Bush beans are high in fiber, which is good for our gut bacteria. And calories? Hardly any 🙂
The last levels
Keep harvesting your bush beans until there's none left. It takes about 3 weeks. And in that time you harvest a ton of beans.
Once your plants stop producing beans and flowers, it's time for the last level: empty your patch and get ready to sow something new.
Once your plants stop producing beans and flowers, it's time for the last level: empty your patch and get ready to sow something new.
So, ready to grow your own bush beans?
Bush beans are a fun vegetable to grow and also super healthy. Once the plants get a strong start, growing is a piece of cake.
Plus: with our materials and with help from the app, it's practically impossible to fail 😉
Get your bush bean seeds here or get started with a complete starter kit:
Plus: with our materials and with help from the app, it's practically impossible to fail 😉
Get your bush bean seeds here or get started with a complete starter kit:
Succes!
