Our Hill of Beans

These beans are part of the reason I dug everything up. During late spring, Emma and I picked out a couple of seed packets from the store. Green beans were part of our first experiment, before the mud pit and cedar kits. A seed pack, starter soil, and a recycled tray from our garage started this adventure. I wasn't expecting them to amount to much, but we were both excited when, in no time, the seeds grew, peeking out from the soil, and sprouted into mini plants! We transplanted them into the garden in early April with an open tomato cage to grow on (rookie mistake). Turns out, they needed a little more support and much more heat.

Well, what a lesson in patience! Those seeds had grown so fast in their first stages of life, but when we transplanted them, they stayed mini plants for weeeeeeks!!! Little by little, they started to climb and ended up getting pretty top heavy. Next time, I will pinch off the runners when they get to the top. This will make the plants bushier, rather than tall and tangly. Live and learn.

mini plants in a row

tall and tangly

Japanese beetle damage (top right)

baby beanies hiding

all grown up and ready to be picked

We've had a couple of scares. First, a Japanese beetle infestation. I learned a few things about Japanese beetles: 1. They are attracted to already damaged leaves. So picking off the ones they have munched on seemed to help; 2. Beetle bags use a pheromone to attract beetles that then fall into a bag they cannot escape. Tempting, but the bags actually increase the number of beetles in the area and can attract beetles who fly 10-15 miles to get in on the action. 3. The smash-with-2-bricks method provides a satisfying, crunchy, gooey end to the uninvited guests. I kept a close eye on the leaves and crushed any JBs in sight.

Second scare, for a couple of weeks at the beginning of July, all green bean production screeched to a halt. I have NO idea why. I'm looking for answers. And, it happened right after we had collected enough to have them for dinner and fall in love with them!!! Sooo tasty!! Again, I don't know what did the trick, but.... they're baaaack!