Bean, Soy, Green Pearls

How to Sow

Sow in average soil in a sunny location after danger of frost and soil has warmed, from spring to midsummer. For bush beans, sow in rows 18-30" apart, sow seeds 3" apart and cover with 2" of fine soil. Firm lightly. Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days. For bush beans keep sowing bean seeds every 2 weeks for a constant supply of delicious beans.

How to Grow

Thin gradually to stand 6" apart when seedlings are 1-2" high. In dry weather, keep soil well-watered. Cultivate or mulch to keep weed-free, but do not work or handle plants when leaves are wet. Bean plants may stop producing beans at the hottest point of summer. When temperatures back down, bean pods will again begin to develop. Pole bean plants bear more pods over a long time and can last till first frost.

Harvesting

Soybeans are a first-rate package of nutrients, one filled with protein, fiber, and an assortment of chemicals that help reduce cholesterol and may offset some cancers. They can be eaten at either the shell (half-mature) or dry stage, or as sprouts. For shell beans, pick when the pods are plump but still green and soft. Fresh soybeans lose their flavor quickly, so use them immediately after picking. Most pods ripen at the same rate, so you may want to pull the entire plant. For dry soybeans, harvest entire plants once their foliage has yellowed, and hang them upside down in a warm, airy place. (Soybean pods shatter easily, so don’t wait too long to pull plants.) Once the pods are entirely dry, shell and store soybean seeds in airtight containers in a cool location.