String bean is one of the legumes commonly grown in the garden. Phaseolus vulgaris, more popularly known as the white bean and French bean, is a perennial herbaceous plant grown all over the world for its dried white or brown seeds or ragged fruits. The family includes nine sub-families, with each having several species. The most common types of this family include the Verona bean (Citrus species), Solanaceae bean (Crateiferaecia lanceolata), Odontoglossum bean (Crateifera odorata), Pennybean bean (Piper nigrum), Pigweed bean (Crateiceus acutangula), Bearberry bean (Semicarpus tricuspida), Houttuynia gabonensis, Mimulus guttatus, and Ananas cosmosus.
This family of plants has six species of which the most common is the Cappuccino bean (Cappuccino verum). Three of the Cappuccino bean species are edible and two are ornamental. The Cappuccino bean tends to grow very tall and spreads quickly, taking over large areas before fading. It flowers late in the season and seeds are available at farmers’ markets. Growing vegetables using this bean is an easy way of getting more daily consumption of beans while enhancing your soil’s nutrients.
If you have selected a bean variety that is suitable for growing vegetables, you need to get the plant started as early as possible. Most vegetable gardening enthusiasts start out with pole beans such as the Acacia pole bean. Pole beans are recommended because they can tolerate alkaline soils. In addition, pole beans are tolerant of high temperatures. String beans can be planted up to twelve inches deep.
When it comes to string beans, the bean shoots are known as stolons and stigmas are the individual stalks. You have the option of choosing between flat bean bags or spiral bean bags. They come in various shapes, but they all have one thing in common – they all have a small hole in the middle where the bean can be inserted. Most seeds fall into this hole, while some will go through the entire bean. Some bean bags have been found to be a bit difficult to harvest and others are not so efficient when it comes to germination.
To cultivate your string bean plant, you have to ensure that the area that you chose is well drained and free from weeds. The best time to plant your bean crop is during the winter months, as they tend to get destroyed easily. Another advantage of string bean planting is that you can plant them in either filled or hollow containers. The idea is to fill the container with enough water so that the roots get a good root growing environment and also so that the roots get enough air, water and nutrients.
It is important to make sure that the container you select for your bean plants is not too large, as they tend to drown during the wet season. This often results in the death of the bean plant. It’s better to plant your bean plants in a pot that is slightly bigger than the bean plant.
When the weather conditions are just right, remove your bean plant from its container and lay it on the ground where you want to plant it. Gently water the plant and make sure that the soil is completely moist. Next, dig a hole about half inches deep and as wide as the string of beans. Keep the hole away from the trunk of the plant and make sure that you anchor it with wooden stakes. Anchoring is important as water is an essential requirement for bean growth.
Finally, place your bean plant inside the hole and after that, select a spot on your garden that gets maximum sunlight. Bean plants thrive best in sunny locations. Make sure you water your bean plants regularly. In a few months, you will be surprised at how good your string beans have grown.