Phaseolus vulgaris
Botanical Name
Phaseolus vulgaris
Hardiness
Annual
Height
1 to 3 feet
Width
1 to 2 feet
Flowers
Mid to late summer: white
Fruit
Green pods, some varieties produce purple or yellow pods
Light
Full sun
Soil
Moist, well-drained
Planting and Care
Direct sow outdoors after danger of frost has passed. Plant seeds 1 inch deep - 2 to 4 inches apart in rows at least 18 to 24 inches apart. Mulch the soil around the plant after the 2nd set of true leaves appear. Successive sow thru July for a continual crop.
Harvesting
To prevent the possible spread of bacterial blight, only harvest plants when they are dry. Pick pods when they become firm and crisp and have reached their mature length, but while the fruit inside the pods is still relatively small. Plants will continue to produce new pods if harvest is continual.
Problems
Mexican bean beetle, bacterial blights, white mold, aphids, leafhoppers, seedcorn maggot, spider mites, mosaic virus
Varieties to Consider
'Blue Lake' - resistant to bean mosaic virus
'Golden Butterwax' - yellow pods
'Royal Purple Burgundy' - purple fruit turns green after cooking
'Golden Butterwax' - yellow pods
'Royal Purple Burgundy' - purple fruit turns green after cooking